Morphogen treatment of gastrointestinal ulcers

ABSTRACT

Disclosed are methods and compositions for maintaining the integrity of the gastrointestinal tract luminal lining in a mammal, including (1) limiting epithelial cell proliferation, (2) inhibiting ulcerative lesion formation, (3) inhibiting inflammation normally associated with ulcerative diseases, and (4) stimulating the repair of ulcerative lesions and the regeneration of the luminal tissue. The methods and compositions include a therapeutically effective amount of a morphogen as defined herein.

REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. Ser. No. 08/174,605, filed Dec. 28, 1993, abandoned, which is a continuation of U.S. Ser. No. 07/945,286, filed Sep. 15, 1992, abandoned, which is a continuation-in-part of (1) U.S. Ser. No. 07/752,764, filed Aug. 30, 1991, abandoned, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. Ser. No. 07/667,274, filed Mar. 11, 1991, abandoned; (2) U.S. Ser. No. 07/938,336, filed Aug. 28, 1992, abandoned, which is a continuation-in-part of Ser. No. 07/753,059, filed Aug. 30, 1991, abandoned, which is a continuation-in-part of Ser. No. 07/667,274, filed Mar. 11, 1991, abandoned; and (3) U.S. Ser. No. 07/938,337, filed Aug. 28, 1992, abandoned.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates generally to the treatment of gastrointestinal (GI) disorders. In particular, the invention relates to the treatment of ulcerative diseases within the gastrointestinal tract of a mammal.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The luminal lining of the mammalian gastrointestinal tract (GI tract), which extends from the mouth cavity to the rectum, includes a protective layer of continually proliferating basal epithelial cells overlying a mucosal layer. Together, the basal epithelium and mucosa create the protective "gastrointestinal barrier." Disruption of this barrier results in lesions that can become infected and/or expose underlying tissue to the corrosive effect of gastric juices. Gastrointestinal ulcerations can cause oral mucositis, gastric ulcers, necrotizing enterocolitis, regional ileitis, ulcerative colitis, regional enteritis (Crohn's disease), proctitis, and other forms of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).

Ulcerative oral mucositis is a serious and dose-limiting toxic side effect of many forms of cancer therapies, including chemotherapy and radiation therapy. Oral mucositis accounts for significant pain and discomfort for these patients, and ranges in severity from redness and swelling to frank ulcerative lesions. Chemotherapeutic agents and radiation can kill or damage the epithelial cells lining the oral cavity. Such damage includes the inhibitory effect that chemotherapeutic agents may have on mitoses of the rapidly dividing cells of the oral basal epithelium. The severity of damage is related to the type and dose of chemotherapeutic agent(s) and concomitant therapy such as radiotherapy. Further, ulceration is hastened if sources of chronic irritation such as defective dental restorations, fractured teeth or ill-fitting dental prostheses are present. Oral mucositis most often affects the nonkeratinized mucosa of the cheeks, lips, soft palate, ventral surface of the tongue and floor of the mouth, approximately one to two weeks after cancer therapy. The lesions often become secondarily infected and become much harder to heal. The disruption in the oral mucosa results in a systemic portal of entry for the numerous microorganisms found in the mouth. Consequently, the oral cavity is the most frequently identifiable source of sepsis in the granulocytopenic cancer patient. Of primary concern are those patients undergoing: chemotherapy for cancer such as leukemia, breast cancer or as an adjuvant to tumor removal; radiotherapy for head and neck cancer; and combined chemotherapy and radiotherapy for bone marrow transplants.

One source of oral mucositis can result from xerostomia, or chronic mouth dryness, which typically results from diminished or arrested salivary secretion or asialism. Salivary gland dysfunction or atrophy may result from tissue senescence in aged individuals, or from an organic disorder. Most frequently, xerostomia is an undesired side effect of a clinical or pharmaceutical therapy. Normally, saliva moistens the oral mucosal membrane, allowing for the dissolution and limited absorption of exogenous substances introduced into the oral cavity. In xerostomaic individuals irritating exogenous substances, including foods and medications, remain exposed to the mucosa and can cause inflammation and ulceration. A description of xerostomia-causing medications is described in Gallager, et al. (1991) Current Opinion in Dentistry 1:777-782.

Current therapy for mucositis is limited to either local or systemic palliation or topical anti-bacterial therapy. At present there is no effective treatment for mucositis. Therapy typically is limited to pain medications and treatment of secondary infection. In particular, recommendations have included treatment with topical anesthetics such as xylocaine, benzocaine and cocaine, treatment with solutions which coat the ulcerative lesions with a polysaccharide gel and use of antiseptic solutions such as Chlorhexadine. While all these treatments do provide some relief, none are directed to the actual healing of oral mucositis, which entails directly healing the mucosal epithelium cells.

Recently, certain local-acting growth factors, such as TGF-α have been shown to have some effect on ulcerative mucositis lesions at low concentrations, but less effect at higher concentrations (see U.S. Pat. No. 5,102,870, issued Apr. 7, 1992 to Florine et al.) The biphasic effect exhibited by such factors may limit their clinical utility. There remains a need for a therapy that inhibits ulcerative mucositis lesion formation and significantly enhances healing of lesions following their formation.

Gastrointestinal ulcer disease, in particular, peptic ulcers, affect 5-15% of the United States population. Peptic ulcers include gastric ulcers, which occur as lesions in the wall of the stomach, and duodenal ulcers, which are deep lesions that occur in the wall of the duodenum, i.e., the upper portion of the small intestine. Another ulcer disease, particularly worrisome to pediatricians, occurs in the premature infants. This condition, known as necrotizing enterocolitis, affects 10-15% of newborns having a birth weight of under 1.5 kg and results in severe ulceration of the small intestine, which frequently requires surgery. Gastric ulcers can result from an imbalance in factors which maintain the natural gastrointestinal barrier, including factors which neutralize corrosive gastric juices, such as the mucous bicarbonate, and other factors which protect the body from luminal damaging agents. Although current antiulcer therapeutics, including antisecretory products such as cimetidine and ranitidine, appear to be effective in healing duodenal ulcers, it is generally believed that they are effective because they reduce normal gastric acid secretion. While the reduction in acidity aids in the closure of the ulcer, it also interferes with normal digestion. Accordingly, a high percentage of ulcers healed with current therapies recur within one year of therapy. The high rate of ulcer recurrence is thought to be at least partially attributable to the reduced number of mucus-producing cells in the scar tissue which is left at the site of the healed ulcer, rendering the area more vulnerable to rupture when the gastointestinal acidity returns to normal.

PCT Application No. PCT/US89/03467 discloses the use of an acid-resistant local-acting fibroblast growth factor to treat GI ulcers. U.S. Pat. No. 5,043,329 discloses the use of phospholipids to treat ulcers of the gastrointestinal tract.

Severe ulceration of the gastrointestinal mucosa also can spontaneously occur in the lower bowel (distal ileum and colon) in a spectrum of clinical disorders called inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). The two major diseases in this classification are ulcerative colitis and regional enteritis (Crohn's Disease) which are associated with severe mucosal ulceration (frequently penetrating the wall of the bowel and forming strictures and fistulas), severe mucosal and submucosal inflammation and edema, and fibrosis. Other forms of IBD include regional ileitis and proctitis. Clinically, patients with fulminant IBD can be severely ill with massive diarrhea, blood loss, dehydration, weight loss and fever. The prognosis of the disease is not good and frequently requires resection of the diseased tissue.

It is an object of this invention to provide methods and compositions for maintaining the integrity of the gastrointestinal luminal lining in a mammal. Another object is to provide methods and compositions for regenerating basal epithelium and mucosa in ulcerated gastrointestinal tract barrier tissue, including the oral mucosa. Another object of the invention is to provide tissue protective methods and compositions that allow extension or enhancement of a chemical or radiotherapy. Another object is to provide methods and compositions capable of limiting the proliferation of epithelial cells, particularly the basal epithelial cells of the gastrointestinal tract. Still another object is to provide methods and compositions for substantially inhibiting inflammation normally associated with ulcerative diseases. Another object is to provide methods and compositions for protecting mucosal tissue from the tissue destructive effects associated with xerostomia. Yet another object is to provide methods and compositions for the treatment of oral mucositis, peptic ulcers, ulcerative colitis, regional enteritis, necrotizing enterocolitis, proctitis and other ulcerative diseases of the gastrointestinal tract.

These and other objects and features of the invention will be apparent from the description, drawings, and claims which follow.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It now has been discovered that morphogenic proteins ("morphogen"), as defined herein, are useful as therapeutic methods and compositions for protecting the luminal lining of the gastrointestinal tract from ulceration, particularly in individuals at risk for ulcer formation. Specifically, the morphogens described herein can limit the proliferation of epithelial cells, inhibit the inflammation normally associated with ulcerative disease, inhibit scar tissue formation, and induce repair and regeneration of the ulcerated tissue.

In one aspect, the invention features compositions and therapeutic treatment methods that comprise the step of administering to a mammal a therapeutically effective amount of a morphogenic protein ("morphogen"), as defined herein, upon injury to all or a portion of the GI tract luminal lining, or in anticipation of such injury, for a time and at a concentration sufficient to maintain the integrity of the GI tract luminal lining, including repairing ulcerated tissue, and/or inhibiting damage thereto.

In another aspect, the invention features compositions and therapeutic treatment methods for maintaining the integrity of the GI tract luminal lining in a mammal which include administering to the mammal, upon injury to all or a portion of the GI tract luminal lining, or in anticipation of such injury, a compound that stimulates in vivo a therapeutically effective concentration of an endogenous morphogen within the body of the mammal sufficient to maintain the integrity of the luminal lining, including regenerating ulcerated tissue and/or inhibiting damage thereto. These compounds are referred to herein as morphogen-stimulating agents, and are understood to include substances which, when administered to a mammal, act on cells in tissue(s) or organ(s) that normally are responsible for, or capable of, producing a morphogen and/or secreting a morphogen, and which cause the endogenous level of the morphogen to be altered. The agent may act, for example, by stimulating expression and/or secretion of an endogenous morphogen.

As used herein, "gastrointestinal tract" means the entire gastrointestinal tract of a mammal, from the mouth to the rectum, inclusive, including the mouth cavity, esophagus, stomach, upper and lower intestines, and colon. As used herein, "ulcer" refers to an open lesion or break of the integrity of the epithelial lining of the gastrointestinal tract, resulting in erosion of the underlying mucosa. "Maintaining the integrity of the luminal lining" means providing an effective morphogen concentration to the cells of the gastrointestinal tract luminal lining, the concentration being sufficient to substantially inhibit lesion formation in the basal epithelium of the gastrointestinal barrier, including stimulating the regeneration of damaged tissue and/or inhibiting additional damage thereto. "Protecting" mucosal tissue means providing a therapeutically effective morphogen concentration to the cells of the gastrointestinal tract luminal lining sufficient to inhibit the tissue damage associated with tissue ulceration, including stimulating regeneration of damaged tissue and/or inhibiting additional damage thereto. "Symptom-alleviating cofactor" refers to one or more pharmaceuticals which may be administered together with the therapeutic agents of this invention and which alleviate or mitigate one or more of the symptoms typically associated with periodontal tissue loss. Exemplary cofactors include antibiotics, antiseptics, anti-viral and anti-fungal agents, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agents, anesthetics and analgesics, and antisecretory agents.

In preferred embodiments of the invention, the mammal is a human and ulcers treatable according to the invention include those found in the ileum which cause regional ileitis, those found in the colon which cause ulcerative colitis, regional enteritis (Crohn's disease), proctitis and other forms of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), gastric ulcers such as those found in the stomach, small intestines, duodenum and esophagus; and ulcers found in the mouth. The compositions and methods described herein are particularly useful in treating mucositis lesions caused by chemotherapy or radiation therapy.

Because the morphogens described herein inhibit ulceration of the oral mucosa that typically results from cancer therapies, in another aspect, the invention provides cancer treatment methods and compositions that significantly reduce or inhibit the onset of oral mucositis in a patient. In addition, the morphogens described herein may be used in conjunction with existing chemical or radiation therapies to enhance their efficacy. Cancer chemical and radiation therapies currently in use often are limited in dose or duration by the onset of severe oral mucositis and/or the sepsis which often follows lesion formation. The morphogens described herein can inhibit lesion formation and, accordingly, their administration to a patient as part of a cancer therapy may allow significant enhancement of current therapy doses and/or treatment times.

The morphogens described herein can limit cell proliferation in a proliferating epithelial cell population, thereby protecting these cells from the cytotoxic effects of chemotherapeutic and radiotherapeutic treatments. Accordingly, in another aspect, the invention provides methods and compositions for limiting the mitogenic activity of epithelial cells. This activity of the morphogens also has application for other diseases associated with proliferating epithelial cells, including psoriasis and other such skin tissue disorders. In addition, this activity of morphogens also may be useful to limit hair loss typically associated with cancer therapies.

The morphogens described also herein inhibit inflammation. Accordingly, in another aspect, the invention provides methods and compositions for inhibiting the inflammation associated with ulcerative disease.

The morphogens described herein also stimulate tissue morphogenesis at a site of tissue damage, inhibiting scar tissue formation at a lesion site. Accordingly, another aspect of the invention includes methods and compositions for inhibiting scar tissue formation at a lesion site.

In another aspect of the invention, the morphogens described herein are useful in protecting the mucosal membrane from the tissue destructive effects associated with xerostomia. The xerostomaic condition may be induced by a clinical therapy, including a cancer therapy, medication, diet or result from tissue senescence or an organic disorder of the salivary glands.

In one preferred embodiment, the morphogen or morphogen-stimulating agent is administered directly to the individual by topical administration, e.g., by coating the desired surface to be treated with the morphogen or morphogen-stimulating agent. For example, the therapeutic agent may be provided to the desired site by consuming a formulation containing the therapeutic agent in association with a compound capable of coating or adhering to the luminal lining surface. Such compounds include pectin-containing or sucralfate solutions such as are used in commercially available antacid preparations such as "MILK OF MAGNESIA" and "KAOPECTATE". For oral mucositis treatments, the agent may be provided in an oral rinse similar to a mouth wash that is swished around the mouth to coat the affected tissue, or disposed in a slow-dissolving lozenge or troche. Alternatively, the therapeutic agent may be provided to the site by physically applying or painting a formulation containing the morphogen or morphogen-stimulating agent to the site. Compositions for topical administration also may include a liquid adhesive to adhere the morphogen or morphogen-stimulating agent to the tissue surface. Useful adhesives include "ZILACTIN," as is used in "ORABASE", hydroxypropylcellulose, and fibrinogen/thrombin solutions. Another potentially useful adhesive is the bioadhesive described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,197,973, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. The liquid adhesive may be painted onto the tissue surface, or formulated into an aerosol that is sprayed onto the affected tissue. For treatment of the lower bowel, the therapeutic agent also may be provided rectally, e.g., by suppository, foam, liquid ointment or cream, particularly for the treatment of ulcerations of the ileum and colon. In another embodiment of the invention, the morphogen or morphogen-stimulating agent is provided systemically, e.g., by parenteral administration.

In any treatment method of the invention, "administration of morphogen" refers to the administration of the morphogen, either alone or in combination with other molecules. For example, the mature form of the morphogen may be provided in association with its precursor "pro" domain, which is known to enhance the solubility of the protein in physiological solutions. Other useful molecules known to enhance protein solubility include casein and other milk components, as well as various serum proteins. Additional useful molecules which may be associated with the morphogen or morphogen-stimulating agent include tissue targeting molecules capable of directing the morphogen or morphogen-stimulating agent to epithelial mucosa tissue. Tissue targeting molecules envisioned to be useful in the treatment protocols of this invention include antibodies, antibody fragments or other binding proteins which interact specifically with surface molecules on GI barrier tissue cells. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agents which typically are targeted to inflamed tissue also may be used.

Still another useful tissue targeting molecule may comprise part or all of the morphogen precursor "pro" domain. Under naturally occurring conditions, the endogenous morphogens described herein may be synthesized in other tissues and transported to target tissue after secretion from the synthesizing tissue. For example, while the protein has been shown to be active in bone tissue, the primary source of OP-1 synthesis appears to be the tissue of the urogenic system (e.g., renal and bladder tissue), with secondary expression levels occurring in the brain, heart and lungs (see below.) Moreover, the protein has been identified in serum, saliva and various milk forms. In addition, the secreted form of the protein comprises the mature dimer in association with the pro domain of the intact morphogen sequence. Accordingly, the associated morphogen pro domains may act to target specific morphogens to different tissues in vivo.

Associated tissue targeting or solubility-enhancing molecules also may be covalently linked to the morphogen using standard chemical means, including acid-labile linkages, which likely will be preferentially cleaved in the acidic environment of the GI tract.

Finally, the morphogens or morphogen-stimulating agents provided herein also may be administered in combination with other molecules ("cofactors"), known to be beneficial in ulcer treatments, particularly cofactors capable of mitigating or alleviating symptoms typically associated with ulcerated tissue damage and/or loss. Examples of such cofactors include, analgesics/anesthetics such as xylocaine, and benzocaine; antiseptics such as chlorohexidine; anti-bacterial, anti-viral and anti-fungal agents, including aminoglycosides, macrolides, penicillins, and cephalosporins; and antacids or antisecretory agents such as cimetidine or ramitidine.

Among the morphogens useful in this invention are proteins originally identified as osteogenic proteins, such as the OP-1, OP-2 and CBMP2 proteins, as well as amino acid sequence-related proteins such as DPP (from Drosophila), Vgl (from Xenopus), Vgr-1 (from mouse, see U.S. Pat. No. 5,011,691 to Oppermann et al.), GDF-1 (from mouse, see Lee (1991) PNAS 88:4250-4254), all of which are presented in Table II and Seq. ID Nos.5-14), and the recently identified 60A protein (from Drosophila, Seq. ID No. 24, see Wharton et al. (1991) PNAS 88:9214-9218.) The members of this family, which include members of the TGF-β super-family of proteins, share substantial amino acid sequence homology in their C-terminal regions. The proteins are translated as a precursor, having an N-terminal signal peptide sequence, typically less than about 30 residues, followed by a "pro" domain that is cleaved to yield the mature sequence. The "pro" form of the protein includes the pro domain and the mature domain, and forms a soluble species that appears to be the primary form secreted from cultured mammalian cells. The signal peptide is cleaved rapidly upon translation, at a cleavage site that can be predicted in a given sequence using the method of Von Heijne ((1986) Nucleic Acids Research 14:4683-4691.) Table I, below, describes the various morphogens identified to date, including their nomenclature as used herein, their Seq. ID references, and publication sources for the amino acid sequences for the full length proteins not included in the Seq. Listing. The disclosure of these publications is incorporated herein by reference.

                  TABLE I                                                          ______________________________________                                         "OP-1"     Refers generically to the group of                                             morphogenically active proteins expressed                                      from part or all of a DNA sequence                                             encoding OP-1 protein, including allelic                                       and species variants thereof, e.g., human                                      OP-1 ("hOP-1", Seq. ID No. 5, mature                                           protein amino acid sequence), or mouse                                         OP-1 ("mOP-1", Seq. ID No. 6, mature                                           protein amino acid sequence.) The                                              conserved seven cysteine skeleton is                                           defined by residues 38 to 139 of Seq. ID                                       Nos. 5 and 6. The cDNA sequences and the                                       amino acids encoding the full length                                           proteins are provided in Seq. Id Nos. 16                                       and 17 (hOP1) and Seq. ID Nos. 18 and 19                                       (mOP1.) The mature proteins are defined                                        by residues 293-431 (hOP1) and 292-430                                         (mOP1). The "pro" regions of the                                               proteins, cleaved to yield the mature,                                         morphogenically active proteins are                                            defined essentially by residues 30-292                                         (hOP1) and residues 30-291 (mOP1).                                  "OP-2"     refers generically to the group of active                                      proteins expressed from part or all of a                                       DNA sequence encoding OP-2 protein,                                            including allelic and species variants                                         thereof, e.g., human OP-2 ("hOP-2", Seq.                                       ID No. 7, mature protein amino acid                                            sequence) or mouse OP-2 ("mOP-2", Seq. ID                                      No. 8, mature protein amino acid                                               sequence). The conserved seven cysteine                                        skeleton is defined by residues 38 to 139                                      of Seq. ID Nos. 7 and 8. The cDNA                                              sequences and the amino acids encoding the                                     full length proteins are provided in Seq.                                      ID Nos. 20 and 21 (hOP2) and Seq. ID Nos.                                      22 and 23 (mOP2.) The mature proteins are                                      defined essentially by residues 264-402                                        (hOP2) and 261-399 (mOP2). The "pro"                                           regions of the proteins, cleaved to yield                                      the mature, morphogenically active                                             proteins likely are defined essentially by                                     residues 18-263 (hOP2) and residues 18-260                                     (mOP2). (Another cleavage site also                                            occurs 21 residues upstream for hOP-2                                          protein.)                                                           "CBMP2"    refers generically to the morphogenically                                      active proteins expressed from a DNA                                           sequence encoding the CBMP2 proteins,                                          including allelic and species variants                                         thereof, e.g., human CBMP2A ("CBMP2A(fx)",                                     Seq ID No. 9) or human CBMP2B DNA                                              ("CBMP2B(fx)", Seq. ID NO. 10). The amino                                      acid sequence for the full length                                              proteins, referred to in the literature as                                     BMP2A and BMP2B, or BMP2 and BMP4, appear                                      in Wozney, et al. (1988) Science                                               242:1528-1534. The pro domain for BMP2                                         (BMP2A) likely includes residues 25-248 or                                     25-282; the mature protein, residues                                           249-396 or 283-396. The pro domain for                                         BMP4 (BMP2B) likely includes residues 25-                                      256 or 25-292; the mature protein,                                             residues 257-408 or 293-408.                                        "DPP(fx)"  refers to protein sequences encoded by the                                     Drosophila DPP gene and defining the                                           conserved seven cysteine skeleton (Seq. ID                                     No. 11). The amino acid sequence for the                                       full length protein appears in Padgett, et                                     al (1987) Nature 325: 81-84. The pro                                           domain likely extends from the signal                                          peptide cleavage site to residue 456; the                                      mature protein likely is defined by                                            residues 457-588.                                                   "Vgl(fx)"  refers to protein sequences encoded by the                                     Xenopus Vgl gene and defining the                                              conserved seven cysteine skeleton (Seq. ID                                     No. 12). The amino acid sequence for the                                       full length protein appears in                                                 Weeks (1987) Cell 51: 861-867. The pro                                         domain likely extends from the signal                                          peptide cleavage site to residue 246; the                                      mature protein likely is defined by                                            residues 247-360.                                                   "Vgr-1(fx)"                                                                               refers to protein sequences encoded by the                                     murine Vgr-1 gene and defining the                                             conserved seven cysteine skeleton (Seq. ID                                     No. 13). The amino acid sequence for the                                       full length protein appears in Lyons, et                                       al, (1989) PNAS 86: 4554-4558. The pro                                         domain likely extends from the signal                                          peptide cleavage site to residue 299; the                                      mature protein likely is defined by                                            residues 300-438.                                                   "GDF-1(fx)"                                                                               refers to protein sequences encoded by the                                     human GDF-1 gene and defining the                                              conserved seven cysteine skeleton (Seq. ID                                     No. 14). The cDNA and encoded amino                                            sequence for the full length protein is                                        provided in Seq. ID. No. 32. The pro                                           domain likely extends from the signal                                          peptide cleavage site to residue 214; the                                      mature protein likely is defined by                                            residues 215-372.                                                   "60A"      refers generically to the morphogenically                                      active proteins expressed from part or all                                     of a DNA sequence (from the Drosophila 60A                                     gene) encoding the 60A proteins (see Seq.                                      ID No. 24 wherein the cDNA and encoded                                         amino acid sequence for the full length                                        protein is provided). "60A(fx)" refers to                                      the protein sequences defining the                                             conserved seven cysteine skeleton                                              (residues 354 to 455 of Seq. ID No. 24.)                                       The pro domain likely extends from the                                         signal peptide cleavage site to residue                                        324; the mature protein likely is defined                                      by residues 325-455.                                                "BMP3(fx)" refers to protein sequences encoded by the                                     human BMP3 gene and defining the conserved                                     seven cysteine skeleton (Seq. ID No. 26).                                      The amino acid sequence for the full                                           length protein appears in Wozney et al.                                        (1988) Science 242: 1528-1534. The pro                                         domain likely extends from the signal                                          peptide cleavage site to residue 290; the                                      mature protein likely is defined by                                            residues 291-472.                                                   "BMP5(fx)" refers to protein sequences encoded by the                                     human BMP5 gene and defining the conserved                                     seven cysteine skeleton (Seq. ID No. 27).                                      The amino acid sequence for the full                                           length protein appears in Celeste, et al.                                      (1991) PNAS 87: 9843-9847. The pro domain                                      likely extends from the signal peptide                                         cleavage site to residue 316; the mature                                       protein likely is defined by residues                                          317-454.                                                            "BMP6(fx)" refers to protein sequences encoded by the                                     human BMP6 gene and defining the conserved                                     seven cysteine skeleton (Seq. ID No. 28).                                      The amino acid sequence for the full                                           length protein appears in Celeste, et al.                                      (1990) PNAS 87: 9843-5847. The pro domain                                      likely extends from the signal peptide                                         cleavage site to residue 374; the mature                                       sequence likely includes residues 375-513.                          ______________________________________                                    

The OP-2 proteins have an additional cysteine residue in this region (e.g., see residue 41 of Seq. ID Nos. 7 and 8), in addition to the conserved cysteine skeleton in common with the other proteins in this family. The GDF-1 protein has a four amino acid insert within the conserved skeleton (residues 44-47 of Seq. ID No. 14) but this insert likely does not interfere with the relationship of the cysteines in the folded structure. In addition, the CBMP2 proteins are missing one amino acid residue within the cysteine skeleton.

The morphogens are inactive when reduced, but are active as oxidized homodimers and when oxidized in combination with other morphogens of this invention. Thus, as defined herein, a morphogen is a dimeric protein comprising a pair of polypeptide chains, wherein each polypeptide chain comprises at least the C-terminal six cysteine skeleton defined by residues 43-139 of Seq. ID No. 5, including functionally equivalent arrangements of these cysteines (e.g., amino acid insertions or deletions which alter the linear arrangement of the cysteines in the sequence but not their relationship in the folded structure), such that, when the polypeptide chains are folded, the dimeric protein species comprising the pair of polypeptide chains has the appropriate three-dimensional structure, including the appropriate intra- or inter-chain disulfide bonds such that the protein is capable of acting as a morphogen as defined herein. Specifically, the morphogens generally are capable of all of the following biological functions in a morphogenically permissive environment: stimulating proliferation of progenitor cells; stimulating the differentiation of progenitor cells; stimulating the proliferation of differentiated cells; and supporting the growth and maintenance of differentiated cells, including the "redifferentiation" of transformed cells. In addition, it is also anticipated that these morphogens are capable of inducing redifferentiation of committed cells under appropriate environmental conditions.

In one preferred aspect, the morphogens of this invention comprise one of two species of generic amino acid sequences: Generic Sequence 1 (Seq. ID No. 1) or Generic Sequence 2 (Seq. ID No. 2); where each Xaa indicates one of the 20 naturally-occurring L-isomer, α-amino acids or a derivative thereof. Generic Sequence 1 comprises the conserved six cysteine skeleton and Generic Sequence 2 comprises the conserved six cysteine skeleton plus the additional cysteine identified in OP-2 (see residue 36, Seq. ID No. 2). In another preferred aspect, these sequences further comprise the following additional sequence at their N-terminus:

    (Seq. ID No. 15)                                                               Cys Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa                                                              1               5                                                       

Preferred amino acid sequences within the foregoing generic sequences include: Generic Sequence 3 (Seq. ID No. 3), Generic Sequence 4 (Seq. ID No. 4), Generic Sequence 5 (Seq. ID No. 30) and Generic Sequence 6 (Seq. ID No. 31), listed below. These Generic Sequences accommodate the homologies shared among the various preferred members of this morphogen family identified in Table II, as well as the amino acid sequence variation among them. Specifically, Generic Sequences 3 and 4 are composite amino acid sequences of the following proteins presented in Table II and identified in Seq. ID Nos. 5-14: human OP-1 (hOP-1, Seq. ID Nos. 5 and 16-17), mouse OP-1 (mOP-1, Seq. ID Nos. 6 and 18-19), human and mouse OP-2 (Seq. ID Nos. 7, 8, and 20-22), CBMP2A (Seq. ID No. 9), CBMP2B (Seq. ID No. 10), DPP (from Drosophila, Seq. ID No. 11), Vgl, (from Xenopus, Seq. ID No. 12), Vgr-1 (from mouse, Seq. ID No. 13), and GDF-1 (from mouse, Seq. ID No. 14.) The generic sequences include both the amino acid identity shared by the sequences in Table II, as well as alternative residues for the variable positions within the sequence. Note that these generic sequences allow for an additional cysteine at position 41 or 46 in Generic Sequences 3 or 4, respectively, providing an appropriate cysteine skeleton where inter- or intramolecular disulfide bonds can form, and contain certain critical amino acids which influence the tertiary structure of the proteins.

    Generic Sequence 3                                                             (Seq. ID No. 3)                                                                     Leu Tyr Val Xaa Phe                                                            1               5                                                         Xaa Xaa Xaa Gly Trp Xaa Xaa Trp Xaa                                                             10                                                            Xaa Ala Pro Xaa Gly Xaa Xaa Ala                                                 15                  20                                                        Xaa Tyr Cys Xaa Gly Xaa Cys Xaa                                                        25                  30                                                 Xaa Pro Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa                                                                     35                                                            Xaa Xaa Xaa Asn His Ala Xaa Xaa                                                        40                  45                                                 Xaa Xaa Leu Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa                                                                 50                                                            Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Cys                                                     55                  60                                                    Cys Xaa Pro Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa                                                             65                                                                Xaa Xaa Xaa Leu Xaa Xaa Xaa                                                     70                  75                                                        Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Val Xaa Leu Xaa                                                             80                                                                Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Met Xaa Val Xaa                                                 85                  90                                                        Xaa Cys Gly Cys Xaa                                                                     95                                                               

wherein each Xaa is independently selected from a group of one or more specified amino acids defined as follows: "Res." means "residue" and Xaa at res.4=(Ser, Asp or Glu); Xaa at res.6=(Arg, Gln, Ser or Lys); Xaa at res.7=(Asp or Glu); Xaa at res.8=(Leu or Val); Xaa at res.11=(Gln, Leu, Asp, His or Asn); Xaa at res.12=(Asp, Arg or Asn); Xaa at res.14=(Ile or Val); Xaa at res.15=(Ile or Val); Xaa at res.18=(Glu, Gln, Leu, Lys, Pro or Arg); Xaa at res.20=(Tyr or Phe); Xaa at res.21=(Ala, Ser, Asp, Met, His, Leu or Gln); Xaa at res.23=(Tyr, Asn or Phe); Xaa at res.26=(Glu, His, Tyr, Asp or Gln); Xaa at res.28=(Glu, Lys, Asp or Gln); Xaa at res.30=(Ala, Ser, Pro or Gln); Xaa at res.31=(Phe, Leu or Tyr); Xaa at res.33=(Leu or Val); Xaa at res.34=(Asn, Asp, Ala or Thr); Xaa at res.35=(Ser, Asp, Glu, Leu or Ala); Xaa at res.36=(Tyr, Cys, His, Ser or Ile); Xaa at res.37=(Met, Phe, Gly or Leu); Xaa at res.38=(Asn or Ser); Xaa at res.39=(Ala, Ser or Gly); Xaa at res.40=(Thr, Leu or Ser); Xaa at res.44=(Ile or Val); Xaa at res.45=(Val or Leu); Xaa at res.46=(Gln or Arg); Xaa at res.47=(Thr, Ala or Ser); Xaa at res.49=(Val or Met); Xaa at res.50=(His or Asn); Xaa at res.51=(Phe, Leu, Asn, Ser, Ala or Val); Xaa at res.52=(Ile, Met, Asn, Ala or Val); Xaa at res.53=(Asn, Lys, Ala or Glu); Xaa at res.54=(Pro or Ser); Xaa at res.55=(Glu, Asp, Asn, or Gly); Xaa at res.56=(Thr, Ala, Val, Lys, Asp, Tyr, Ser or Ala); Xaa at res.57=(Val, Ala or Ile); Xaa at res.58=(Pro or Asp); Xaa at res.59=(Lys or Leu); Xaa at res.60=(Pro or Ala); Xaa at res.63=(Ala or Val); Xaa at res.65=(Thr or Ala); Xaa at res.66=(Gln, Lys, Arg or Glu); Xaa at res.67=(Leu, Met or Val); Xaa at res.68=(Asn, Ser or Asp); Xaa at res.69=(Ala, Pro or Ser); Xaa at res.70=(Ile, Thr or Val); Xaa at res.71=(Ser or Ala); Xaa at res.72=(Val or Met); Xaa at res.74=(Tyr or Phe); Xaa at res.75=(Phe, Tyr or Leu); Xaa at res.76=(Asp or Asn); Xaa at res.77=(Asp, Glu, Asn or Ser); Xaa at res.78=(Ser, Gln, Asn or Tyr); Xaa at res.79=(Ser, Asn, Asp or Glu); Xaa at res.80=(Asn, Thr or Lys); Xaa at res.82=(Ile or Val); Xaa at res.84=(Lys or Arg); Xaa at res.85=(Lys, Asn, Gln or His); Xaa at res.86=(Tyr or His); Xaa at res.87=(Arg, Gln or Glu); Xaa at res.88=(Asn, Glu or Asp); Xaa at res.90=(Val, Thr or Ala); Xaa at res.92=(Arg, Lys, Val, Asp or Glu); Xaa at res.93=(Ala, Gly or Glu); and Xaa at res.97=(His or Arg);

    Generic Sequence 4                                                             (Seq. ID No. 4)                                                                Cys Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Leu Tyr Val Xaa Phe                                         1                5                  10                                        Xaa Xaa Xaa Gly Trp Xaa Xaa Trp Xaa                                                             15                                                            Xaa Ala Pro Xaa Gly Xaa Xaa Ala                                                 20                  25                                                        Xaa Tyr Cys Xaa Gly Xaa Cys Xaa                                                         30                  35                                                Xaa Pro Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa                                                                     40                                                            Xaa Xaa Xaa Asn His Ala Xaa Xaa                                                         45                  50                                                Xaa Xaa Leu Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa                                                                 55                                                            Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Cys                                                     60                  65                                                    Cys Xaa Pro Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa                                                             70                                                                Xaa Xaa Xaa Leu Xaa Xaa Xaa                                                     75                  80                                                        Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Val Xaa Leu Xaa                                                             85                                                                Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Met Xaa Val Xaa                                                 90                  95                                                        Xaa Cys Gly Cys Xaa                                                                    100                                                               

wherein each Xaa is independently selected from a group of one or more specified amino acids as defined by the following: "Res." means "residue" and Xaa at res.2=(Lys or Arg); Xaa at res.3=(Lys or Arg); Xaa at res.4=(His or Arg); Xaa at res.5=(Glu, Ser, His, Gly, Arg or Pro); Xaa at res.9=(Ser, Asp or Glu); Xaa at res.11=(Arg, Gln, Ser or Lys); Xaa at res.12=(Asp or Glu); Xaa at res.13=(Leu or Val); Xaa at res.16=(Gln, Leu, Asp, His or Asn); Xaa at res.17=(Asp, Arg, or Asn); Xaa at res.19=(Ile or Val); Xaa at res.20=(Ile or Val); Xaa at res.23=(Glu, Gln, Leu, Lys, Pro or Arg); Xaa at res.25=(Tyr or Phe); Xaa at res.26=(Ala, Ser, Asp, Met, His, Leu, or Gln); Xaa at res.28=(Tyr, Asn or Phe); Xaa at res.31=(Glu, His, Tyr, Asp or Gln); Xaa at res.33=Glu, Lys, Asp or Gln); Xaa at res.35=(Ala, Ser or Pro); Xaa at res.36=(Phe, Leu or Tyr); Xaa at res.38=(Leu or Val); Xaa at res.39=(Asn, Asp, Ala or Thr); Xaa at res.40=(Ser, Asp, Glu, Leu or Ala); Xaa at res.41=(Tyr, Cys, His, Ser or Ile); Xaa at res.42=(Met, Phe, Gly or Leu); Xaa at res.44=(Ala, Ser or Gly); Xaa at res.45=(Thr, Leu or Ser); Xaa at res.49=(Ile or Val); Xaa at res.50=(Val or Leu); Xaa at res.51=(Gln or Arg); Xaa at res.52=(Thr, Ala or Ser); Xaa at res.54=(Val or Met); Xaa at res.55=(His or Asn); Xaa at res.56=(Phe, Leu, Asn, Ser, Ala or Val); Xaa at res.57=(Ile, Met, Asn, Ala or Val); Xaa at res.58=(Asn, Lys, Ala or Glu); Xaa at res.59=(Pro or Ser); Xaa at res.60=(Glu, Asp, or Gly); Xaa at res.61=(Thr, Ala, Val, Lys, Asp, Tyr, Ser or Ala); Xaa at res.62=(Val, Ala or Ile); Xaa at res.63=(Pro or Asp); Xaa at res.64=(Lys or Leu); Xaa at res.65=(Pro or Ala); Xaa at res.68=(Ala or Val); Xaa at res.70=(Thr or Ala); Xaa at res.71=(Gln, Lys, Arg or Glu); Xaa at res.72=(Leu, Met or Val); Xaa at res.73=(Asn, Ser or Asp); Xaa at res.74=(Ala, Pro or Ser); Xaa at res.75=(Ile, Thr or Val); Xaa at res.76=(Ser or Ala); Xaa at res.77=(Val or Met); Xaa at res.79=(Tyr or Phe); Xaa at res.80=(Phe, Tyr or Leu); Xaa at res.81=(Asp or Asn); Xaa at res.82=(Asp, Glu, Asn or Ser); Xaa at res.83=(Ser, Gln, Asn or Tyr); Xaa at res.84=(Ser, Asn, Asp or Glu); Xaa at res.85=(Asn, Thr or Lys); Xaa at res.87=(Ile or Val); Xaa at res.89=(Lys or Arg); Xaa at res.90=(Lys, Asn, Gln or His); Xaa at res.91=(Tyr or His); Xaa at res.92=(Arg, Gln or Glu); Xaa at res.93=(Asn, Glu or Asp); Xaa at res.95=(Val, Thr or Ala); Xaa at res.97=(Arg, Lys, Val, Asp or Glu); Xaa at res.98=(Ala, Gly or Glu); and Xaa at res.102=(His or Arg).

Similarly, Generic Sequence 5 (Seq. ID No. 30) and Generic Sequence 6 (Seq. ID No. 31) accommodate the homologies shared among all the morphogen protein family members identified in Table II. Specifically, Generic Sequences 5 and 6 are composite amino acid sequences of human OP-1 (hOP-1, Seq. ID Nos. 5 and 16-17), mouse OP-1 (mOP-1, Seq. ID Nos. 6 and 18-19), human and mouse OP-2 (Seq. ID Nos. 7, 8, and 20-22), CBMP2A (Seq. ID No. 9), CBMP2B (Seq. ID No. 10), DPP (from Drosophila, Seq. ID No. 11), Vgl, (from Xenopus, Seq. ID No. 12), Vgr-1 (from mouse, Seq. ID No. 13), and GDF-1 (from mouse, Seq. ID No. 14), human BMP3 (Seq. ID No. 26), human BMP5 (Seq. ID No. 27), human BMP6 (Seq. ID No. 28) and 60(A) (from Drosophila, Seq. ID Nos. 24-25). The generic sequences include both the amino acid identity shared by these sequences in the C-terminal domain, defined by the six and seven cysteine skeletons (Generic Sequences 5 and 6, respectively), as well as alternative residues for the variable positions within the sequence. As for Generic Sequences 3 and 4, Generic Sequences 5 and 6 allow for an additional cysteine at position 41 (Generic Sequence 5) or position 46 (Generic Sequence 6), providing an appropriate cysteine skeleton where inter- or intramolecular disulfide bonds can form, and containing certain critical amino acids which influence the tertiary structure of the proteins.

    Generic Sequence 5                                                             (Seq. ID No. 30)                                                                    Leu Xaa Xaa Xaa Phe                                                            1               5                                                         Xaa Xaa Xaa Gly Trp Xaa Xaa Trp Xaa                                                             10                                                            Xaa Xaa Pro Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Ala                                                 15                  20                                                        Xaa Tyr Cys Xaa Gly Xaa Cys Xaa                                                        25                  30                                                 Xaa Pro Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa                                                                     35                                                            Xaa Xaa Xaa Asn His Ala Xaa Xaa                                                        40                  45                                                 Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa                                                                 50                                                            Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Cys                                                                       60                                                      Cys Xaa Pro Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa                                                             65                                                                Xaa Xaa Xaa Leu Xaa Xaa Xaa                                                     70                  75                                                        Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Val Xaa Leu Xaa                                                             80                                                                Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Met Xaa Val Xaa                                                 85                  90                                                        Xaa Cys Xaa Cys Xaa                                                                     95                                                               

wherein each Xaa is independently selected from a group of one or more specified amino acids defined as follows: "Res." means "residue" and Xaa at res.2=(Tyr or Lys); Xaa at res.3=Val or Ile); Xaa at res.4=(Ser, Asp or Glu); Xaa at res.6=(Arg, Gln, Ser, Lys or Ala); Xaa at res.7=(Asp, Glu or Lys); Xaa at res.8=(Leu, Val or Ile); Xaa at res.11=(Gln, Leu, Asp, His, Asn or Ser); Xaa at res.12=(Asp, Arg, Asn or Glu); Xaa at res.14=(Ile or Val); Xaa at res.15=(Ile or Val); Xaa at res.16 (Ala or Ser); Xaa at res.18=(Glu, Gln, Leu, Lys, Pro or Arg); Xaa at res.19=(Gly or Ser); Xaa at res.20=(Tyr or Phe); Xaa at res.21=(Ala, Ser, Asp, Met, His, Gln, Leu or Gly); Xaa at res.23=(Tyr, Asn or Phe); Xaa at res.26=(Glu, His, Tyr, Asp, Gln or Ser); Xaa at res.28=(Glu, Lys, Asp, Gln or Ala); Xaa at res.30=(Ala, Ser, Pro, Gln or Asn); Xaa at res.31=(Phe, Leu or Tyr); Xaa at res.33=(Leu, Val or Met); Xaa at res.34=(Asn, Asp, Ala, Thr or Pro); Xaa at res.35=(Ser, Asp, Glu, Leu, Ala or Lys); Xaa at res.36=(Tyr, Cys, His, Ser or Ile); Xaa at res.37=(Met, Phe, Gly or Leu); Xaa at res.38=(Asn, Ser or Lys); Xaa at res.39=(Ala, Ser, Gly or Pro); Xaa at res.40=(Thr, Leu or Ser); Xaa at res.44=(Ile, Val or Thr); Xaa at res.45=(Val, Leu or Ile); Xaa at res.46=(Gln or Arg); Xaa at res.47=(Thr, Ala or Ser); Xaa at res.48=(Leu or Ile); Xaa at res.49=(Val or Met); Xaa at res.50=(His, Asn or Arg); Xaa at res.51=(Phe, Leu, Asn, Ser, Ala or Val); Xaa at res.52=(Ile, Met, Asn, Ala, Val or Leu); Xaa at res.53=(Asn, Lys, Ala, Glu, Gly or Phe); Xaa at res.54=(Pro, Ser or Val); Xaa at res.55=(Glu, Asp, Asn, Gly, Val or Lys); Xaa at res.56=(Thr, Ala, Val, Lys, Asp, Tyr, Ser, Ala, Pro or His); Xaa at res.57=(Val, Ala or Ile); Xaa at res.58=(Pro or Asp); Xaa at res.59=(Lys, Leu or Glu); Xaa at res.60=(Pro or Ala); Xaa at res.63=(Ala or Val); Xaa at res.65=(Thr, Ala or Glu); Xaa at res.66=(Gln, Lys, Arg or Glu); Xaa at res.67=(Leu, Met or Val); Xaa at res.68=(Asn, Ser, Asp or Gly); Xaa at res.69=(Ala, Pro or Ser); Xaa at res.70=(Ile, Thr, Val or Leu); Xaa at res.71=(Ser, Ala or Pro); Xaa at res.72=(Val, Met or Ile); Xaa at res.74=(Tyr or Phe); Xaa at res.75=(Phe, Tyr, Leu or His); Xaa at res.76=(Asp, Asn or Leu); Xaa at res.77=(Asp, Glu, Asn or Ser); Xaa at res.78=(Ser, Gln, Asn, Tyr or Asp); Xaa at res.79=(Ser, Asn, Asp, Glu or Lys); Xaa at res.80=(Asn, Thr or Lys); Xaa at res.82=(Ile, Val or Asn); Xaa at res.84=(Lys or Arg); Xaa at res.85=(Lys, Asn, Gln, His or Val); Xaa at res.86=(Tyr or His); Xaa at res.87=(Arg, Gln, Glu or Pro); Xaa at res.88=(Asn, Glu or Asp); Xaa at res.90=(Val, Thr, Ala or Ile); Xaa at res.92=(Arg, Lys, Val, Asp or Glu); Xaa at res.93=(Ala, Gly, Glu or Ser); Xaa at res.95=(Gly or Ala) and Xaa at res.97=(His or Arg).

    Generic Sequence 6                                                             (Seq. ID No. 31)                                                               Cys Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Leu Xaa Xaa Xaa Phe                                         1                5              10                                            Xaa Xaa Xaa Gly Trp Xaa Xaa Trp Xaa                                                             15                                                            Xaa Xaa Pro Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Ala                                                 20                  25                                                        Xaa Tyr Cys Xaa Gly Xaa Cys Xaa                                                         30                  35                                                Xaa Pro Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa                                                                 40                                                            Xaa Xaa Xaa Asn His Ala Xaa Xaa                                                         45                  50                                                Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa                                                                 55                                                            Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Cys                                                     60                  65                                                    Cys Xaa Pro Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa                                                             70                                                                Xaa Xaa Xaa Leu Xaa Xaa Xaa                                                     75                  80                                                        Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Val Xaa Leu Xaa                                                             85                                                                Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Met Xaa Val Xaa                                                 90                  95                                                        Xaa Cys Xaa Cys Xaa                                                                     100                                                              

wherein each Xaa is independently selected from a group of one or more specified amino acids as defined by the following: "Res." means "residue" and Xaa at res.2=(Lys, Arg, Ala or Gln); Xaa at res.3=(Lys, Arg or Met); Xaa at res.4=(His, Arg or Gln); Xaa at res.5=(Glu, Ser, His, Gly, Arg, Pro, Thr, or Tyr); Xaa at res.7=(Tyr or Lys); Xaa at res.8=(Val or Ile); Xaa at res.9=(Ser, Asp or Glu); Xaa at res.11=(Arg, Gln, Ser, Lys or Ala); Xaa at res.12=(Asp, Glu, or Lys); Xaa at res.13=(Leu, Val or Ile); Xaa at res.16=(Gln, Leu, Asp, His, Asn or Ser); Xaa at res.17=(Asp, Arg, Asn or Glu); Xaa at res.19=(Ile or Val); Xaa at res.20=(Ile or Val); Xaa at res.21=(Ala or Ser); Xaa at res.23=(Glu, Gln, Leu, Lys, Pro or Arg); Xaa at res.24=(Gly or Ser); Xaa at res.25=(Tyr or Phe); Xaa at res.26=(Ala, Ser, Asp, Met, His, Gln, Leu, or Gly); Xaa at res.28=(Tyr, Asn or Phe); Xaa at res.31=(Glu, His, Tyr, Asp, Gln or Ser); Xaa at res.33=Glu, Lys, Asp, Gln or Ala); Xaa at res.35=(Ala, Ser, Pro, Gln or Asn); Xaa at res.36=(Phe, Leu or Tyr); Xaa at res.38=(Leu, Val or Met); Xaa at res.39=(Asn, Asp, Ala, Thr or Pro); Xaa at res.40=(Ser, Asp, Glu, Leu, Ala or Lys); Xaa at res.41=(Tyr, Cys, His, Ser or Ile); Xaa at res.42=(Met, Phe, Gly or Leu); Xaa at res.43=(Asn, Ser or Lys); Xaa at res.44=(Ala, Ser, Gly or Pro); Xaa at res.45=(Thr, Leu or Ser); Xaa at res.49=(Ile, Val or Thr); Xaa at res.50=(Val, Leu or Ile); Xaa at res.51=(Gln or Arg); Xaa at res.52=(Thr, Ala or Ser); Xaa at res.53=(Leu or Ile); Xaa at res.54=(Val or Met); Xaa at res.55=(His, Asn or Arg); Xaa at res.56=(Phe, Leu, Asn, Ser, Ala or Val); Xaa at res.57=(Ile, Met, Asn, Ala, Val or Leu); Xaa at res.58=(Asn, Lys, Ala, Glu, Gly or Phe); Xaa at res.59=(Pro, Ser or Val); Xaa at res.60=(Glu, Asp, Gly, Val or Lys); Xaa at res.61=(Thr, Ala, Val, Lys, Asp, Tyr, Ser, Ala, Pro or His); Xaa at res.62=(Val, Ala or Ile); Xaa at res.63=(Pro or Asp); Xaa at res.64=(Lys, Leu or Glu); Xaa at res.65=(Pro or Ala); Xaa at res.68=(Ala or Val); Xaa at res.70=(Thr, Ala or Glu); Xaa at res.71=(Gln, Lys, Arg or Glu); Xaa at res.72=(Leu, Met or Val); Xaa at res.73=(Asn, Ser, Asp or Gly); Xaa at res.74=(Ala, Pro or Ser); Xaa at res.75=(Ile, Thr, Val or Leu); Xaa at res.76=(Ser, Ala or Pro); Xaa at res.77=(Val, Met or Ile); Xaa at res.79=(Tyr or Phe); Xaa at res.80=(Phe, Tyr, Leu or His); Xaa at res.81=(Asp, Asn or Leu); Xaa at res.82=(Asp, Glu, Asn or Ser); Xaa at res.83=(Ser, Gln, Asn, Tyr or Asp); Xaa at res.84=(Ser, Asn, Asp, Glu or Lys); Xaa at res.85=(Asn, Thr or Lys); Xaa at res.87=(Ile, Val or Asn); Xaa at res.89=(Lys or Arg); Xaa at res.90=(Lys, Asn, Gln, His or Val); Xaa at res.91=(Tyr or His); Xaa at res.92=(Arg, Gln, Glu or Pro); Xaa at res.93=(Asn, Glu or Asp); Xaa at res.95=(Val, Thr, Ala or Ile); Xaa at res.97=(Arg, Lys, Val, Asp or Glu); Xaa at res.98=(Ala, Gly, Glu or Ser); Xaa at res.100=(Gly or Ala); and Xaa at res.102=(His or Arg).

Particularly useful sequences for use as morphogens in this invention include the C-terminal domains, e.g., the C-terminal 96-102 amino acid residues of Vgl, Vgr-1, DPP, OP-1, OP-2, CBMP-2A, CBMP-2B, GDF-1 (see Table II, below, and Seq. ID Nos. 5-14), as well as proteins comprising the C-terminal domains of 60A, BMP3, BMP5 and BMP6 (see Seq. ID Nos. 24-28), all of which include at least the conserved six or seven cysteine skeleton. In addition, biosynthetic constructs designed from the generic sequences, such as COP-1, 3-5, 7, 16, disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,011,691, also are useful. Other sequences include the inhibins/activin proteins (see, for example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,968,590 and 5,011,691). Accordingly, other useful sequences are those sharing at least 70% amino acid sequence homology or "similarity", and preferably 80% homology or similarity with any of the sequences above. These are anticipated to include allelic and species variants and mutants, and biosynthetic muteins, as well as novel members of this morphogenic family of proteins. Particularly envisioned in the family of related proteins are those proteins exhibiting morphogenic activity and wherein the amino acid changes from the preferred sequences include conservative changes, e.g., those as defined by Dayhoff et al., Atlas of Protein Sequence and Structure; vol. 5, Suppl. 3, pp. 345-362, (M. O. Dayhoff, ed., Nat'l BioMed. Research Fdn., Washington, D.C. 1979). As used herein, potentially useful sequences are aligned with a known morphogen sequence using the method of Needleman et al. ((1970) J. Mol. Biol. 48:443-453) and identities calculated by the Align program (DNAstar, Inc.). "Homology" or "similarity" as used herein includes allowed conservative changes as defined by Dayhoff et al.

The currently most preferred protein sequences useful as morphogens in this invention include those having greater than 60% identity, preferably greater than 65% identity, with the amino acid sequence defining the conserved six cysteine skeleton of hOP1 (e.g., residues 43-139 of Seq. ID No. 5). These most preferred sequences include both allelic and species variants of the OP-1 and OP-2 proteins, including the Drosophila 60A protein. Accordingly, in another preferred aspect of the invention, useful morphogens include active proteins comprising species of polypeptide chains having the generic amino acid sequence herein referred to as "OPX", which accommodates the homologies between the various identified species of OP1 and OP2 (Seq. ID No. 29).

The morphogens useful in the methods, composition and devices of this invention include proteins comprising any of the polypeptide chains described above, whether isolated from naturally-occurring sources, or produced by recombinant DNA or other synthetic techniques, and includes allelic and species variants of these proteins, naturally-occurring or biosynthetic mutants thereof, as well as various truncated and fusion constructs. Deletion or addition mutants also are envisioned to be active, including those which may alter the conserved C-terminal cysteine skeleton, provided that the alteration does not functionally disrupt the relationship of these cysteines in the folded structure. Accordingly, such active forms are considered the equivalent of the specifically described constructs disclosed herein. The proteins may include forms having varying glycosylation patterns, varying N-termini, a family of related proteins having regions of amino acid sequence homology, and active truncated or mutated forms of native or biosynthetic proteins, produced by expression of recombinant DNA in host cells.

The morphogenic proteins can be expressed from intact or truncated cDNA or from synthetic DNAs in procaryotic or eucaryotic host cells, and purified, cleaved, refolded, and dimerized to form morphogenically active compositions. Currently preferred host cells include E. coli or mammalian cells, such as CHO, COS or BSC cells. A detailed description of the morphogens useful in the methods, compositions and devices of this invention is disclosed in U.S. patent application Ser. Nos. 07/752,764, filed Aug. 30, 1991, and 07/667,274, filed Mar. 11, 1991, both abandoned and continued as pending U.S. patent application Ser. Nos. 08/404,113 and 08/396,684, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference.

Thus, in view of this disclosure, skilled genetic engineers can isolate genes from cDNA or genomic libraries of various different species which encode appropriate amino acid sequences, or construct DNAs from oligonucleotides, and then can express them in various types of host cells, including both procaryotes and eucaryotes, to produce large quantities of active proteins capable of maintaining the integrity of the gastrointestinal tract luminal lining in individuals at risk for ulcer formation.

The foregoing and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be made more apparent from the following detailed description of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The foregoing and other objects and features of this invention, as well as the invention itself, may be more fully understood from the following description, when read together with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 graphs the effect of a morphogen (e.g., OP-1) and a placebo control on mucositic lesion formation;

FIG. 2(A and B) are photomicrographs illustrating the ability of morphogens to inhibit lesion formation in an oral mucositis animal model, where (2A) shows lesion formation in untreated hamster cheek pouches; and (2B) shows the significantly reduced effect on morphogen treated cheek pouches;

FIG. 3(A and B) graphs the antiproliferative effect of morphogens on mink lung cells; and

FIG. 4(A-D) graphs the effects of a morphogen (e.g., OP-1, FIGS. 4A and 4C) and TGF-β (FIG. 4B and 4D) on collagen (4A and 4B) and hyaluronic acid (4C and 4D) production in primary fibroblast cultures.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

It now has been discovered that the proteins described herein are effective agents for maintaining the integrity of the gastrointestinal tract luminal lining in a mammal. As described herein, these proteins ("morphogens") are capable of substantially inhibiting lesion formation in the basal epithelium, as well as stimulating the repair and regeneration the barrier tissue following ulceration. The proteins are capable of inhibiting epithelial cell proliferation and protecting the barrier tissue from damage. The proteins also are capable of inhibiting scar tissue formation that typically follows lesion formation in a mammal. In addition, the morphogens also can inhibit the inflammation normally associated with ulcerative diseases. The proteins may be used to treat ulcerative diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, including oral mucositis, peptic ulcers, ulcerative colitis, proctitis, and regional enteritis. The proteins also may be used to protect and/or treat GI tissue subject to damage in a xerostomaic individual. Finally, the morphogens may be administered as part of a chemical or radiotherapy to inhibit lesion formation in a patient undergoing cancer therapy and enhance the efficacy of the therapy thereby.

Provided below are detailed descriptions of suitable morphogens useful in the methods and compositions of this invention, as well as methods for their administration and application, and numerous, nonlimiting examples which demonstrate (1) the suitability of the morphogens described herein as therapeutic agents for maintaining the integrity of the gastrointestinal tract luminal lining, and (2) provide assays with which to test candidate morphogens and morphogen-stimulating agents for their efficacy. Specifically, the examples demonstrate the ability of morphogens to treat oral mucositis, duodenal ulcers, peptic ulcers, and ulcerative colitis (Examples 2-5), inhibit epithelial cell proliferation (Example 6), inhibit inflammation (Example 7) and inhibit scar tissue formation (Example 8). The Examples also describe methods for identifying morphogen-expressing tissue and screening for candidate morphogen stimulating agents (Examples 1, 2 and 10).

I. Useful Morphogens

As defined herein a protein is morphogenic if it is capable of inducing the developmental cascade of cellular and molecular events that culminate in the formation of new, organ-specific tissue and comprises at least the conserved C-terminal six cysteine skeleton or its functional equivalent (see supra). Details of how the morphogens useful in the method of this invention first were identified, as well as a description on how to make, use and test them for morphogenic activity, are disclosed in U.S. Ser. No. 07/667,274, filed Mar. 11, 1991 and U.S. Ser. No. 07/752,764, filed Aug. 30, 1991, both abandoned and continued as pending U.S. patent application Ser. Nos. 08/404,113 and 08/396,684, the disclosures of which are hereby incorporated by reference.

A candidate morphogen or morphogen composition can be evaluated for in vivo morphogenic utility generally according to the procedures set forth in U.S. Ser. No. 07/752,764. The proteins and compositions may be injected or surgically implanted in a mammal, following any of a number of procedures well known in the art. For example, surgical implant bioassays may be performed essentially following the procedure of Sampath et al. (1983) PNAS 80:6591-6595.

Histological sectioning and staining is preferred to determine the extent of morphogenesis in vivo, particularly in tissue repair procedures. Excised implants are fixed in Bouins Solution, embedded in paraffin, and cut into 6-8 μm sections. Staining with toluidine blue or hemotoxylin/eosin demonstrates clearly the ultimate development of the new tissue. Twelve day implants are usually sufficient to determine whether the implants contain newly induced tissue.

Successful implants exhibit a controlled progression through the stages of induced tissue development allowing one to identify and follow the tissue-specific events that occur. For example, in endochondral bone formation the stages include:

(1) leukocytes on day one;

(2) mesenchymal cell migration and proliferation on days two and three;

(3) chondrocyte appearance on days five and six;

(4) cartilage matrix formation on day seven;

(5) cartilage calcification on day eight;

(6) vascular invasion, appearance of osteoblasts, and formation of new bone on days nine and ten;

(7) appearance of osteoblastic and bone remodeling and dissolution of the implanted matrix on days twelve to eighteen; and

(8) hematopoietic bone marrow differentiation in the ossicle on day twenty-one.

In addition to histological evaluation, biological markers may be used as a marker for tissue morphogenesis. Useful markers include tissue-specific enzymes whose activity may be assayed (e.g., spectrophotometrically) after homogenization of the implant. These assays may be useful for quantitation and for obtaining an estimate of tissue formation quickly after the implants are removed from the animal. For example, alkaline phosphatase activity may be used as a marker for osteogenesis.

Incorporation of systemically provided morphogens may be followed using tagged morphogens (e.g., radioactively labeled) and determining their localization in new tissue, and/or by monitoring their disappearance from the circulatory system using a standard pulse-chase labeling protocol. The morphogen also may be provided with a tissue-specific molecular tag, whose uptake may be monitored and correlated with the concentration of morphogen provided.

The morphogen to be assayed according to the above-described exemplary procedures can be purified from naturally-sourced material, or can be recombinantly produced from procaryotic or eucaryotic host cells, into which genetic material encoding a morphogen, e.g., genetic material bearing one of the nucleic acid sequences disclosed herein, has been introduced. Alternatively, the above-described exemplary procedures can be used to determine whether a novel protein suspected of being a morphogen indeed has morphogenic activity.

Particularly useful proteins include those which comprise the naturally derived sequences disclosed in Table II. Other useful sequences include 60A, BMP5, BMP6, BMP3, and biosynthetic constructs such as those disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,011,691, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference (e.g., COP-1, COP-3, COP-4, COP-5, COP-7, and COP-16).

Accordingly, the morphogens useful in the methods and compositions of this invention also may be described by morphogenically active proteins having amino acid sequences sharing 70% or, preferably, 80% homology (similarity) with any of the sequences described above, where "homology" is as defined herein above.

The morphogens useful in the method of this invention also can be described by any of the 6 generic sequences described herein (Generic Sequences 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6). Generic sequences 1 and 2 also may include, at their N-terminus, the sequence

    (Seq. ID No. 15)                                                               Cys Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa                                                              1               5                                                       

Table II, set forth below, compares the amino acid sequences of the active regions of native proteins that have been identified as morphogens, including human OP-1 (hOP-1, Seq. ID Nos. 5 and 16-17), mouse OP-1 (mOP-1, Seq. ID Nos. 6 and 18-19), human and mouse OP-2 (Seq. ID Nos. 7, 8, and 20-23), CBMP2A (Seq. ID No. 9), CBMP2B (Seq. ID No. 10), DPP (from Drosophila, Seq. ID No. 11), Vgl, (from Xenopus, Seq. ID No. 12), Vgr-1 (from mouse, Seq. ID No. 13), and GDF-1 (from mouse, Seq. ID No. 14.) The sequences are aligned essentially following the method of Needleman et al. (1970) J. Mol. Biol., 48:443-453, calculated using the Align Program (DNAstar, Inc.) In the table, three dots indicates that the amino acid in that position is the same as the amino acid in hOP-1. Three dashes indicates that no amino acid is present in that position, and are included for purposes of illustrating homologies. For example, amino acid residue 60 of CBMP-2A and CBMP-2B is "missing". Of course, both these amino acid sequences in this region comprise Asn-Ser (residues 58, 59), with CBMP-2A then comprising Lys and Ile, whereas CBMP-2B comprises Ser and Ile.

                  TABLE II                                                         ______________________________________                                         hOP-1.sup.1                                                                          Cys     Lys    Lys   His  Glu  Leu  Tyr  Val                             mOP-1.sup.2                                                                          . . .   . . .  . . . . . .                                                                               . . .                                                                               . . .                                                                               . . .                                                                               . . .                           hOP-2.sup.3                                                                          . . .   Arg    Arg   . . .                                                                               . . .                                                                               . . .                                                                               . . .                                                                               . . .                           mOP-2.sup.4                                                                          . . .   Arg    Arg   . . .                                                                               . . .                                                                               . . .                                                                               . . .                                                                               . . .                           DPP.sup.5                                                                            . . .   Arg    Arg   . . .                                                                               Ser  . . .                                                                               . . .                                                                               . . .                           Vgl.sup.6                                                                            . . .   . . .  Lys   Arg  His  . . .                                                                               . . .                                                                               . . .                           Vgr-1.sup.7                                                                          . . .   . . .  . . . . . .                                                                               Gly  . . .                                                                               . . .                                                                               . . .                           CBMP- . . .   . . .  Arg   . . .                                                                               Pro  . . .                                                                               . . .                                                                               . . .                           2A.sup.8                                                                       CBMP- . . .   Arg    Arg   . . .                                                                               Ser  . . .                                                                               . . .                                                                               . . .                           2B.sup.9                                                                       GDF-  . . .   Arg    Ala   Arg  Arg  . . .                                                                               . . .                                                                               . . .                           1.sup.10                                                                             1                         5                                              ______________________________________                                         hOP-1 Ser    Phe    Arg  Asp  Leu  Gly  Trp  Gln  Asp                          mOP-1 . . .  . . .  . . .                                                                               . . .                                                                               . . .                                                                               . . .                                                                               . . .                                                                               . . .                                                                               . . .                        hOP-2 . . .  . . .  Gln  . . .                                                                               . . .                                                                               . . .                                                                               . . .                                                                               Leu  . . .                        mOP-2 Ser    . . .  . . .                                                                               . . .                                                                               . . .                                                                               . . .                                                                               . . .                                                                               Leu  . . .                        DPP   Asp    . . .  Ser  . . .                                                                               Val  . . .                                                                               . . .                                                                               Asp  . . .                        Vgl   Glu    . . .  Lys  . . .                                                                               Val  . . .                                                                               . . .                                                                               . . .                                                                               Asn                          Vgr-1 . . .  . . .  Gln  . . .                                                                               Val  . . .                                                                               . . .                                                                               . . .                                                                               . . .                        CBMP- Asp    . . .  Ser  . . .                                                                               Val  . . .                                                                               . . .                                                                               Asn  . . .                        2A                                                                             CBMP- Asp    . . .  Ser  . . .                                                                               Val  . . .                                                                               . . .                                                                               Asn  . . .                        2B                                                                             GDF-1 . . .  . . .  . . .                                                                               Glu  Val  . . .                                                                               . . .                                                                               His  Arg                                       10                         15                                     ______________________________________                                         hOP-1 Trp    Ile    Ile  Ala  Pro  Glu  Gly  Tyr  Ala                          mOP-1 . . .  . . .  . . .                                                                               . . .                                                                               . . .                                                                               . . .                                                                               . . .                                                                               . . .                                                                               . . .                        hOP-2 . . .  Val    . . .                                                                               . . .                                                                               . . .                                                                               Gln  . . .                                                                               . . .                                                                               Ser                          mOP-2 . . .  Val    . . .                                                                               . . .                                                                               . . .                                                                               Gln  . . .                                                                               . . .                                                                               Ser                          DPP   . . .  . . .  Val  . . .                                                                               . . .                                                                               Leu  . . .                                                                               . . .                                                                               Asp                          Vgl   . . .  Val    . . .                                                                               . . .                                                                               . . .                                                                               Gln  . . .                                                                               . . .                                                                               Met                          Vgr-1 . . .  . . .  . . .                                                                               . . .                                                                               . . .                                                                               Lys  . . .                                                                               . . .                                                                               . . .                        CBMP- . . .  . . .  Val  . . .                                                                               . . .                                                                               Pro  . . .                                                                               . . .                                                                               His                          2A                                                                             CBMP- . . .  . . .  Val  . . .                                                                               . . .                                                                               Pro  . . .                                                                               . . .                                                                               Gln                          2B                                                                             GDF-1 . . .  Val    . . .                                                                               . . .                                                                               . . .                                                                               Arg  . . .                                                                               Phe  Leu                                              20                       25                                ______________________________________                                         hOP-1 Ala    Tyr    Tyr  Cys  Glu  Gly  Glu  Cys  Ala                          mOP-1 . . .  . . .  . . .                                                                               . . .                                                                               . . .                                                                               . . .                                                                               . . .                                                                               . . .                                                                               . . .                        hOP-2 . . .  . . .  . . .                                                                               . . .                                                                               . . .                                                                               . . .                                                                               . . .                                                                               . . .                                                                               Ser                          mOP-2 . . .  . . .  . . .                                                                               . . .                                                                               . . .                                                                               . . .                                                                               . . .                                                                               . . .                                                                               . . .                        DPP   . . .  . . .  . . .                                                                               . . .                                                                               His  . . .                                                                               Lys  . . .                                                                               Pro                          Vgl   . . .  Asn    . . .                                                                               . . .                                                                               Tyr  . . .                                                                               . . .                                                                               . . .                                                                               Pro                          Vgr-1 . . .  Asn    . . .                                                                               . . .                                                                               Asp  . . .                                                                               . . .                                                                               . . .                                                                               Ser                          CBMP- . . .  Phe    . . .                                                                               . . .                                                                               His  . . .                                                                               Glu  . . .                                                                               Pro                          2A                                                                             CBMP- . . .  Phe    . . .                                                                               . . .                                                                               His  . . .                                                                               Asp  . . .                                                                               Pro                          2B                                                                             GDF-1 . . .  Asn    . . .                                                                               . . .                                                                               Gln  . . .                                                                               Gln  . . .                                                                               . . .                                                 30                       35                           ______________________________________                                         hOP-1 Phe    Pro    Leu  Asn  Ser  Tyr  Met  Asn  Ala                          mOP-1 . . .  . . .  . . .                                                                               . . .                                                                               . . .                                                                               . . .                                                                               . . .                                                                               . . .                                                                               . . .                        hOP-2 . . .  . . .  . . .                                                                               Asp  . . .                                                                               Cys  . . .                                                                               . . .                                                                               . . .                        mOP-2 . . .  . . .  . . .                                                                               Asp  . . .                                                                               Cys  . . .                                                                               . . .                                                                               . . .                        DPP   . . .  . . .  . . .                                                                               Ala  Asp  His  Phe  . . .                                                                               Ser                          Vgl   Tyr    . . .  . . .                                                                               Thr  Glu  Ile  Leu  . . .                                                                               Gly                          Vgr-1 . . .  . . .  . . .                                                                               . . .                                                                               Ala  His  . . .                                                                               . . .                                                                               . . .                        CBMP- . . .  . . .  . . .                                                                               Ala  Asp  His  Leu  . . .                                                                               Ser                          2A                                                                             CBMP- . . .  . . .  . . .                                                                               Ala  Asp  His  Leu  . . .                                                                               Ser                          2B                                                                             GDF-1 Leu    . . .  Val  Ala  Leu  Ser  Gly  Ser**                                                                               . . .                                                      40                                               ______________________________________                                         hOP-1 Thr    Asn    His  Ala  Ile  Val  Gln  Thr  Leu                          mOP-1 . . .  . . .  . . .                                                                               . . .                                                                               . . .                                                                               . . .                                                                               . . .                                                                               . . .                                                                               . . .                        hOP-2 . . .  . . .  . . .                                                                               . . .                                                                               . . .                                                                               Leu  . . .                                                                               Ser  . . .                        mOP-2 . . .  . . .  . . .                                                                               . . .                                                                               . . .                                                                               Leu  . . .                                                                               Ser  . . .                        DPP   . . .  . . .  . . .                                                                               . . .                                                                               Val  . . .                                                                               . . .                                                                               . . .                                                                               . . .                        Vgl   Ser    . . .  . . .                                                                               . . .                                                                               . . .                                                                               Leu  . . .                                                                               . . .                                                                               . . .                        Vgr-1 . . .  . . .  . . .                                                                               . . .                                                                               . . .                                                                               . . .                                                                               . . .                                                                               . . .                                                                               . . .                        CBMP- . . .  . . .  . . .                                                                               . . .                                                                               . . .                                                                               . . .                                                                               . . .                                                                               . . .                                                                               . . .                        2A                                                                             CBMP- . . .  . . .  . . .                                                                               . . .                                                                               . . .                                                                               . . .                                                                               . . .                                                                               . . .                                                                               . . .                        2B                                                                             GDF-1 Leu    . . .  . . .                                                                               . . .                                                                               Val  Leu  Arg  Ala  . . .                              45                           50                                          ______________________________________                                         hOP-1 Val    His    Phe  Ile  Asn  Pro  Glu  Thr  Val                          mOP-1 . . .  . . .  . . .                                                                               . . .                                                                               . . .                                                                               . . .                                                                               Asp  . . .                                                                               . . .                        hOP-2 . . .  His    Leu  Het  Lys  . . .                                                                               Asn  Ala  . . .                        mOP-2 . . .  His    Leu  Met  Lys  . . .                                                                               Asp  Val  . . .                        DPP   . . .  Asn    Asn  Asn  . . .                                                                               . . .                                                                               Gly  Lys  . . .                        Vgl   . . .  . . .  Ser  . . .                                                                               Glu  . . .                                                                               . . .                                                                               Asp  Ile                          Vgr-1 . . .  . . .  Val  Met  . . .                                                                               . . .                                                                               . . .                                                                               Tyr  . . .                        CBMP- . . .  Asn    Ser  Val  . . .                                                                               Ser                                               Lys    Ile                                                               2A                                                                             CBMP- . . .  Asn    Ser  Val  . . .                                                                               Ser                                               Ser    Ile                                                               2B                                                                             GDF-1 Met    . . .  Ala  Ala  Ala  . . .                                                                               Gly  Ala  Ala                                       55                         60                                     ______________________________________                                         hOP-1 Pro    Lys    Pro  Cys  Cys  Ala  Pro  Thr  Gln                          mOP-1 . . .  . . .  . . .                                                                               . . .                                                                               . . .                                                                               . . .                                                                               . . .                                                                               . . .                                                                               . . .                        hOP-2 . . .  . . .  Ala  . . .                                                                               . . .                                                                               . . .                                                                               . . .                                                                               . . .                                                                               Lys                          mOP-2 . . .  . . .  Ala  . . .                                                                               . . .                                                                               . . .                                                                               . . .                                                                               . . .                                                                               Lys                          DPP   . . .  . . .  Ala  . . .                                                                               . . .                                                                               Val  . . .                                                                               . . .                                                                               . . .                        Vgl   . . .  Leu    . . .                                                                               . . .                                                                               . . .                                                                               Val  . . .                                                                               . . .                                                                               Lys                          Vgr-1 . . .  . . .  . . .                                                                               . . .                                                                               . . .                                                                               . . .                                                                               . . .                                                                               . . .                                                                               Lys                          CBMP- . . .  . . .  Ala  . . .                                                                               . . .                                                                               Val  . . .                                                                               . . .                                                                               Glu                          2A                                                                             CBMP- . . .  . . .  Ala  . . .                                                                               . . .                                                                               Val  . . .                                                                               . . .                                                                               Glu                          2B                                                                             GDF-1 Asp    Leu    . . .                                                                               . . .                                                                               . . .                                                                               Val  . . .                                                                               Ala  Arg                                              65                       70                                ______________________________________                                         hOP-1 Leu    Asn    Ala  Ile  Ser  Val  Leu  Tyr  Phe                          mOP-1 . . .  . . .  . . .                                                                               . . .                                                                               . . .                                                                               . . .                                                                               . . .                                                                               . . .                                                                               . . .                        hOP-2 . . .  Ser    . . .                                                                               Thr  . . .                                                                               . . .                                                                               . . .                                                                               . . .                                                                               Tyr                          mOP-2 . . .  Ser    . . .                                                                               Thr  . . .                                                                               . . .                                                                               . . .                                                                               . . .                                                                               Tyr                          Vgl   Met    Ser    Pro  . . .                                                                               . . .                                                                               Met  . . .                                                                               Phe  Tyr                          Vgr-1 Val    . . .  . . .                                                                               . . .                                                                               . . .                                                                               . . .                                                                               . . .                                                                               . . .                                                                               . . .                        DPP   . . .  Asp    Ser  Val  Ala  Met  . . .                                                                               . . .                                                                               Leu                          CBMP- . . .  Ser    . . .                                                                               . . .                                                                               . . .                                                                               Met  . . .                                                                               . . .                                                                               Leu                          2A                                                                             CBMP- . . .  Ser    . . .                                                                               . . .                                                                               . . .                                                                               Met  . . .                                                                               . . .                                                                               Leu                          2B                                                                             GDF-1 . . .  Ser    Pro  . . .                                                                               . . .                                                                               . . .                                                                               . . .                                                                               Phe  . . .                                                 75                       80                           ______________________________________                                         hOP-1 Asp    Asp    Ser  Ser  Asn  Val  Ile  Leu  Lys                          mOP-1 . . .  . . .  . . .                                                                               . . .                                                                               . . .                                                                               . . .                                                                               . . .                                                                               . . .                                                                               . . .                        hOP-2 . . .  Ser    . . .                                                                               Asn  . . .                                                                               . . .                                                                               . . .                                                                               . . .                                                                               Arg                          mOP-2 . . .  Ser    . . .                                                                               Asn  . . .                                                                               . . .                                                                               . . .                                                                               . . .                                                                               Arg                          DPP   Asn    . . .  Gln  . . .                                                                               Thr  . . .                                                                               Val  . . .                                                                               . . .                        Vgl   . . .  Asn    Asn  Asp  . . .                                                                               . . .                                                                               Val  . . .                                                                               Arg                          Vgr-1 . . .  . . .  Asn  . . .                                                                               . . .                                                                               . . .                                                                               . . .                                                                               . . .                                                                               . . .                        CBMP- . . .  Glu    Asn  Glu  Lys  . . .                                                                               Val  . . .                                                                               . . .                        2A                                                                             CBMP- . . .  Glu    Tyr  Asp  Lys  . . .                                                                               Val  . . .                                                                               . . .                        2B                                                                             GDF-1 . . .  Asn    . . .                                                                               Asp  . . .                                                                               . . .                                                                               Val  . . .                                                                               Arg                                                        85                                               ______________________________________                                         hOP-1 Lys     Tyr    Arg   Asn  Het  Val  Val  Arg                             mOP-1 . . .   . . .  . . . . . .                                                                               . . .                                                                               . . .                                                                               . . .                                                                               . . .                           hOP-2 . . .   His    . . . . . .                                                                               . . .                                                                               . . .                                                                               . . .                                                                               Lys                             mOP-2 . . .   His    . . . . . .                                                                               . . .                                                                               . . .                                                                               . . .                                                                               Lys                             DPP   Asn     . . .  Gln   Glu  . . .                                                                               Thr  . . .                                                                               Val                             Vgl   His     . . .  Glu   . . .                                                                               . . .                                                                               Ala  . . .                                                                               Asp                             Vgr-1 . . .   . . .  . . . . . .                                                                               . . .                                                                               . . .                                                                               . . .                                                                               . . .                           CBMP- Asn     . . .  Gln   Asp  . . .                                                                               . . .                                                                               . . .                                                                               Glu                             2A                                                                             CBMP- Asn     . . .  Gln   Glu  . . .                                                                               . . .                                                                               . . .                                                                               Glu                             2B                                                                             GDF-1 Gln     . . .  Glu   Asp  . . .                                                                               . . .                                                                               . . .                                                                               Asp                                   90                             95                                        ______________________________________                                         hOP-1 Ala      Cys       Gly    Cys     His                                    mOP-1 . . .    . . .     . . .  . . .   . . .                                  hOP-2 . . .    . . .     . . .  . . .   . . .                                  mOP-2 . . .    . . .     . . .  . . .   . . .                                  DPP   Gly      . . .     . . .  . . .   Arg                                    Vgl   Glu      . . .     . . .  . . .   Arg                                    Vgr-1 . . .    . . .     . . .  . . .   . . .                                  CBMP- Gly      . . .     . . .  . . .   Arg                                    2A                                                                             CBMP- Gly      . . .     . . .  . . .   Arg                                    2B                                                                             GDF-1 Glu      . . .     . . .  . . .   Arg                                                             100                                                   ______________________________________                                          **Between residues 43 and 44 of GDF1 lies the amino acid sequence              GlyGly-Pro-Pro.                                                          

¹ Seq. ID No. 5, residues 38-139; ² Seq. ID No. 6, residues 38-139; ³ Seq. ID No. 7, residues 38-139; ⁴ Seq. ID No. 8, residues 38-139; ⁵ Seq. ID No. 11; ⁶ Seq. ID No. 12; ⁷ Seq. ID No. 13; ⁸ Seq. ID No. 9; ⁹ Seq. ID No. 10; and ¹⁰ Seq. ID No. 14.

As is apparent from the foregoing amino acid sequence comparisons, significant amino acid changes can be made within the generic sequences while retaining the morphogenic activity. For example, while the GDF-1 protein sequence depicted in Table II shares only about 50% amino acid identity with the hOP1 sequence described therein, the GDF-1 sequence shares greater than 70% amino acid sequence homology (or "similarity") with the hOP1 sequence, where "homology" or "similarity" includes allowed conservative amino acid changes within the sequence as defined by Dayhoff, et al., Atlas of Protein Sequence and Structure vol.5, supp.3, pp.345-362, (M. O. Dayhoff, ed., Nat'l BioMed. Res. Fd'n, Washington D.C. 1979.)

The currently most preferred protein sequences useful as morphogens in this invention include those having greater than 60% identity, preferably greater than 65% identity, with the amino acid sequence defining the conserved six cysteine skeleton of hOP1 (e.g., residues 43-139 of Seq. ID No. 5). These most preferred sequences include both allelic and species variants of the OP-1 and OP-2 proteins, including the Drosophila 60A protein. Accordingly, in still another preferred aspect, the invention includes morphogens comprising species of polypeptide chains having the generic amino acid sequence referred to herein as "OPX", which defines the seven cysteine skeleton and accommodates the identities between the various identified mouse and human OP1 and OP2 proteins. OPX is presented in Seq. ID No. 29. As described therein, each Xaa at a given position independently is selected from the residues occurring at the corresponding position in the C-terminal sequence of mouse or human OP1 or OP2 (see Seq. ID Nos. 5-8 and/or Seq. ID Nos. 16-23).

II. Formulations and Methods for Administering Therapeutic Agents

The morphogens or morphogen-stimulating agents may be provided to an individual by any suitable means, preferably by oral, rectal or other direct administration or, alternatively, by systemic administration.

The suitability of systemic administration is demonstrated by the detection of endogenous morphogen in milk and human serum described, for example, in abandoned and continued as U.S. Ser. No. 08/432,883, U.S. Ser. No. 07/923,780, filed Jul. 31, 1992, incorporated herein by reference, and in Example 2, below. Where the morphogen is to be provided parenterally, such as by intravenous, subcutaneous, intramuscular, intraorbital, intraventricular, intracapsular, intraspinal, intracisternal, intraperitoneal or vaginal administration, the morphogen preferably comprises part of an aqueous solution. The solution is physiologically acceptable so that in addition to delivery of the desired morphogen to the patient, the solution does not otherwise adversely affect the patient's electrolyte and volume balance. The aqueous medium for the morphogen thus may comprise normal physiologic saline (0.85% NaCl, 0.15M), pH 7-7.4. The aqueous solution containing the morphogen can be made, for example, by dissolving the protein in 50% ethanol containing acetonitrile in 0.1% trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) or 0.1% HCl, or equivalent solvents. One volume of the resultant solution then is added, for example, to ten volumes of phosphate buffered saline (PBS), which further may include 0.1-0.2% human serum albumin (HSA). The resultant solution preferably is vortexed extensively. If desired, a given morphogen may be made more soluble by association with a suitable molecule. For example, the pro form of the morphogenic protein comprises a species that is soluble in physiological solutions. In fact, the endogenous protein is thought to be transported (e.g., secreted and circulated) in this form. This soluble form of the protein may be obtained from the culture medium of morphogen-secreting cells. Alternatively, a soluble species may be formulated by complexing the mature dimer, (or an active fragment thereof) with part or all of a pro domain. Other components, including various serum proteins, also may be useful.

Useful solutions for parenteral administration may be prepared by any of the methods well known in the pharmaceutical art, described, for example, in Remington's Pharmaceutical Sciences (Gennaro, A., ed.), Mack Pub., 1990. Formulations may include, for example, polyalkylene glycols such as polyethylene glycol, oils of vegetable origin, hydrogenated naphthalenes, and the like. Other potentially useful parenteral delivery systems for these morphogens include ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer particles, osmotic pumps, implantable infusion systems, and liposomes. Formulations for parenteral administration may also include cutric acid for vaginal administration.

Preferably, the morphogens described herein are administered directly e.g., topically, for example, by oral or rectal administration, or by directly applying the therapeutic formulation onto the desired tissue. Oral administration of proteins as therapeutics generally is not practiced as most proteins are readily degraded by digestive enzymes and acids in the mammalian digestive system before they can be absorbed into the bloodstream. However, the morphogens described herein typically are acid stable and protease-resistant (see, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,968,590). In addition, at least one morphogen, OP-1, has been identified in mammary gland extract, colostrum and 57-day milk. Moreover, the OP-1 purified from mammary gland extract is morphogenically active. Specifically, this protein induces endochondral bone formation in mammals when implanted subcutaneously in association with a suitable matrix material, using a standard in vivo bone assay, such as is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,968,590. Moreover, as described above, the morphogen also is detected in the bloodstream. These findings indicate that oral administration is a viable means for administering morphogens to an individual. In addition, while the mature forms of certain morphogens described herein typically are sparingly soluble, the morphogen form found in milk (and mammary gland extract and colostrum) is readily soluble, probably by association of the mature, morphogenically active form with part or all of the pro domain of the intact sequence and/or by association with one or more milk components. Accordingly, the compounds provided herein also may be associated with molecules capable of enhancing their solubility in vitro or in vivo.

For oral mucositis treatments the morphogens or morphogen-stimulating agents (herein below referred to collectively as "therapeutic agent") may be formulated into an oral rinse similar to a mouthwash, where the liquid is swished around in the mouth so that the therapeutic agent is brought in contact with the oral mucosa to maximize treatment of lesions. Alternatively, the therapeutic agent may be formulated as part of a slow dissolving troche or lozenge, or dispersed in a gum base suitable for a chewing gum, such that the agent is released with mastication.

Longer contact with the mucosal surface of the mouth cavity or elsewhere in the G.I. tract can be attained by direct topical administration, using a suitable vehicle which is capable of coating mucosa. Typical examples are pectin-containing formulations or sucralfate suspensions, such as are found in commercially available antacid preparations such as "KAOPECTATE" and "MILK OF MAGNESIA". Formulations for direct administration also may include glycerol and other compositions of high viscosity. Tissue adhesives capable of adhering to the mucosal tissue surface and maintaining the therapeutic agent at the tissue locus also may be used. Useful adhesive compositions include hydroxypropyl-cellulose-containing solutions, such as is found in "ORABSE" (Colgate-Hoyt Laboratories, Norwood, Mass.), or fibrinogen/thrombin-containing solutions. Another useful adhesive is the bio-adhesive described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,197,973, incorporated herein above by reference. Preferably these formulations are painted onto the tissue surface or formulated as an aerosol and sprayed onto the tissue surface. As for parenteral administration, the therapeutic agent may be associated with a molecule that enhances solubility. For example, addition of 0.2% casein increases solubility of the mature active form of OP-1 by 80%. Another useful molecule is a morphogen pro domain.

For all treatments of the gastrointestinal tract, the therapeutic agent also may be formulated into a solid or liquid to be consumed or as an inhalant. For treatments of the lower bowel, formulations for rectal administration may be preferable, and may include suppositories, creams, gels, lotions and the like.

In all applications, biocompatible, preferably bioresorbable, polymers, including, for example, hyaluronic acid, collagen, polybutyrate, tricalcium phosphate, glycolide, lactide and lactide/glycolide copolymers, also may be useful excipients to control the release of the morphogen in vivo. Tablets or capsules may be prepared by employing additives such as pharmaceutically acceptable carriers (e.g., lactose, corn starch, light silicic anhydride, microcrystalline cellulose, sucrose), binders (e.g., alpha-form starch, methylcellulose, carboxymethylcellulose, hydroxypropylcellulose, hydroxypropylmethylcellulose, polyvinylpyrrolidone), disintegrating agents (e.g., carboxymethylcellulose calcium, starch, low substituted hydroxypropylcellulose), surfactants [e.g., Tween 80 Kao-Atlas), Pluronic F68 (Asahi Denka, Japan); polyoxyethylene-polyoxypropylene copolymer)], antioxidants (e.g., L-cysteine, sodium sulfite, sodium ascorbate), lubricants (e.g., magnesium stearate, talc), and the like.

Formulations for inhalation administration may contain as excipients, for example, lactose, or may be aqueous solutions containing, for example, polyoxyethylene-9-lauryl ether, glycocholate and deoxycholate, or oily solutions for administration in the form of nasal drops, or as a gel to be applied intranasally. Formulations for rectal administration also may include methoxy salicylate. The formulations for rectal administration also can be a spreadable cream, gel, suppository, foam, lotion or ointment having a pharmaceutically acceptable nontoxic vehicle or carrier. Biocompatible, preferably bioresorbable, polymers, including, for example, hyaluronic acid, collagen, polybutyrate, tricalcium phosphate, lactide and lactide/glycolide copolymers, also may be useful excipients to control the release of the morphogen in vivo.

The compounds provided herein also may be associated with molecules capable of targeting the morphogen or morphogen-stimulating agent to the gastrointestinal barrier tissue. For example, an antibody, antibody fragment, or other binding protein that interacts specifically with a surface molecule on basal epithelial cells, may be used. Useful targeting molecules may be designed, for example, using the single chain binding site technology disclosed, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,091,513.

As described above, the morphogens provided herein share significant sequence homology in the C-terminal active domains. By contrast, the sequences typically diverge significantly in the sequences which define the pro domain. Accordingly, the pro domain is thought to be morphogen-specific. As described above, it is also known that the various morphogens identified to date are differentially expressed in different tissues. Accordingly, without being limited to any given theory, it is likely that, under natural conditions in the body, selected morphogens typically act on a given tissue. Accordingly, part or all of the pro domains which have been identified associated with the active form of the morphogen in solution, may serve as targeting molecules for the morphogens described herein. For example, the pro domains may interact specifically with one or more molecules at the target tissue to direct the morphogen associated with the pro domain to that tissue. Accordingly, another useful targeting molecule for targeting a morphogen to gastrointestinal barrier tissues may include part or all of a morphogen pro domain, particularly part or all of a pro domain normally associated with an endogenous morphogen known to act on GI tract tissue. As described above, morphogen species comprising the pro domain may be obtained from the culture medium of morphogen-secreting mammalian cells. Alternatively, a tissue-targeting species may be formulated by complexing the mature dimer (or an active fragment thereof) with part or all of a pro domain. Example 1 describes a protocol for identifying morphogen-expressing tissue and/or morphogen target tissue.

Finally, the morphogens or morphogen-stimulating agents provided herein may be administered alone or in combination with other molecules known to be beneficial in treating gastrointestinal tract ulcers, particularly symptom-alleviating cofactors. Useful pharmaceutical cofactors include analgesics and anesthetics such as xylocaine, benzocaine and the like; antiseptics such as chlorohexidine; anti-viral and anti-fungal agents; and antibiotics, including aminoglycosides, macrolides, penicillins, and cephalosporins. Other potentially useful cofactors include antisecretory agents such as H2-receptor antagonists (e.g., cimetidine, ranitidine, famotidine, roxatidine acetate), muscarine receptor antagonists (e.g., Pirenzepine), and antacids such as aluminum hydroxide gel, magnesium hydroxide and sodium bicarbonate. Such agents may be administered either separately or as components of the therapeutic composition containing morphogens or morphogen-stimulating agents.

The compositions can be formulated for parenteral or direct administration to humans or other mammals in therapeutically effective amounts, e.g., amounts which provide appropriate concentrations for a time sufficient to protect the patient's gastrointestinal luminal lining from lesion formation, including amounts which limit the proliferation of epithelial cells, particularly the basal epithelial cells of the G.I. tract, amounts which limit the inflammation associated with the ulcerative diseases and disorders described above, and amounts sufficient to stimulate lesion repair and tissue regeneration.

As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, the concentration of the compounds described in a therapeutic composition will vary depending upon a number of factors, including the dosage of the drug to be administered, the chemical characteristics (e.g., hydrophobicity) of the compounds employed, and the route of administration. The preferred dosage of drug to be administered also is likely to depend on such variables as the type and extent of progression of the ulcerative disease, the overall health status of the particular patient, the relative biological efficacy of the compound selected, the formulation of the compound excipients, and its route of administration. In general terms, the compounds of this invention may be provided in an aqueous physiological buffer solution containing about 0.001 to 10% w/v compound for parenteral administration. Typical dose ranges are from about 10 ng/kg to about 1 g/kg of body weight per day; a preferred dose range is from about 0.1 μg/kg to 100 mg/kg of body weight per day. Optimally, the morphogen dosage given is between 0.1-100 μg of protein per kilogram weight of the patient. Administration may be a single dose per day, or may include multiple doses, such as multiple rinsings with a mouthwash, e.g., a 1 minute rinse three or four times daily. No obvious induced pathological lesions are induced when mature morphogen (e.g., OP-1, 20 μg) is administered daily to normal growing rats for 21 consecutive days. Moreover, 10 μg systemic injections of morphogen (e.g., OP-1) injected daily for 10 days into normal newborn mice does not produce any gross abnormalities.

In administering morphogens systemically in the methods of the present invention, preferably a large volume loading dose is used at the start of the treatment. The treatment then is continued with a maintenance dose. Further administration then can be determined by monitoring at intervals the levels of the morphogen in the blood using, for example, a morphogen-specific antibody and standard immunoassay procedures.

Where injury to the mucosa is induced deliberately or incidentally, as part of, for example, a chemical or radiation therapy, the morphogen preferably is provided just prior to, or concomitant with induction of the treatment. Preferably, the morphogen is administered prophylactically in a clinical setting. Optimally, the morphogen dosage given is between 0.1-100 μg of protein per kilogram weight of the patient. Similarly, the morphogen may be administered prophylactically to individuals at risk for ulcer formation, including xerostomatic or immune-compromised individuals, regardless of etiology.

An effective amount of an agent capable of stimulating endogenous morphogen levels also may be administered by any of the routes described above. For example, an agent capable of stimulating morphogen production in and/or secretion to G.I. tract tissue cells may be provided to a mammal. A method for identifying and testing agents capable of modulating the levels of endogenous morphogens in a given tissue is described generally herein in Example 10, and in detail in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 07/938,336, filed Aug. 28, 1992, abandoned and continued as U.S. patent application Ser. Nos. 08/445,467 and 08/600,352, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference. In addition, Example 1 describes a protocol for determining morphogen-expressing tissue. Briefly, candidate compounds can be identified and tested by incubating the compound in vitro with a test tissue or cells thereof, for a time sufficient to allow the compound to affect the production, i.e., the expression and/or secretion, of a morphogen produced by the cells of that tissue. Here, suitable tissue or cultured cells of a tissue preferably would include cells of the G.I. tract barrier. For example, suitable tissue for testing may include cultured cells isolated from the basal epithelium and mucosa, and the like.

A currently preferred detection means for evaluating the level of the morphogen in culture upon exposure to the candidate compound comprises an immunoassay utilizing an antibody or other suitable binding protein capable of reacting specifically with a morphogen and being detected as part of a complex with the morphogen. Immunoassays may be performed using standard techniques known in the art and antibodies raised against a morphogen and specific for that morphogen. As described herein, morphogens may be isolated from natural-sourced material or they may be recombinantly produced. Agents capable of stimulating endogenous morphogens then may formulated into pharmaceutical preparations and administered as described herein.

III. Examples

Example 1 Identification of Morphogen-Expressing Tissue

Determining the tissue distribution of morphogens may be used to identify different morphogens expressed in a given tissue, as well as to identify new, related morphogens. Tissue distribution also may be used to identify useful morphogen-producing tissue for use in screening and identifying candidate morphogen-stimulating agents. The morphogens (or their mRNA transcripts) readily are identified in different tissues using standard methodologies and minor modifications thereof in tissues where expression may be low. For example, protein distribution may be determined using standard Western blot analysis or immunofluorescent techniques, and antibodies specific to the morphogen or morphogens of interest. Similarly, the distribution of morphogen transcripts may be determined using standard Northern hybridization protocols and transcript-specific oligonucleotide probes.

Any probe capable of hybridizing specifically to a transcript, and distinguishing the transcript of interest from other, related transcripts may be used. Because the morphogens described herein share such high sequence homology in their active, C-terminal domains, the tissue distribution of a specific morphogen transcript may best be determined using a probe specific for the pro region of the immature protein and/or the N-terminal region of the mature protein. Another useful sequence is the 3' non-coding region flanking and immediately following the stop codon. These portions of the sequence vary substantially among the morphogens of this invention, and accordingly, are specific for each protein. For example, a particularly useful Vgr-1-specific probe sequence is the PvuII-SacI fragment, a 265 bp fragment encoding both a portion of the untranslated pro region and the N-terminus of the mature sequence (see Lyons et al. (1989) PNAS 86:4554-4558 for a description of the cDNA sequence). Similarly, particularly useful mOP-1-specific probe sequences are the BstX1-BglI fragment, a 0.68 Kb sequence that covers approximately two-thirds of the mOP-1 pro region; a StuI-StuI fragment, a 0.2 Kb sequence immediately upstream of the 7-cysteine domain; and the Ear1-Pst1 fragment, an 0.3 Kb fragment containing a portion of the 3' untranslated sequence (See Seq. ID No. 18, where the pro region is defined essentially by residues 30-291.) Similar approaches may be used, for example, with hOP-1 (Seq. ID No. 16) or human or mouse OP-2 (Seq. ID Nos. 20 and 22.)

Using these morphogen-specific probes, which may be synthetically engineered or obtained from cloned sequences, morphogen transcripts can be identified in mammalian tissue, using standard methodologies well known to those having ordinary skill in the art. Briefly, total RNA is prepared from various adult murine tissues (e.g., liver, kidney, testis, heart, brain, thymus and stomach) by a standard methodology such as by the method of Chomczyaski et al. ((1987) Anal. Biochem 162:156-159) and described below. Poly (A)+RNA is prepared by using oligo (dT)-cellulose chromatography (e.g., Type 7, from Pharmacia LKB Biotechnology, Inc.). Poly (A)+RNA (generally 15 μg) from each tissue is fractionated on a 1% agarose/formaldehyde gel and transferred onto a Nytran membrane (Schleicher & Schuell). Following the transfer, the membrane is baked at 80° C. and the RNA is cross-linked under UV light (generally 30 seconds at 1 mW/cm²). Prior to hybridization, the appropriate probe is denatured by heating. The hybridization is carried out in a lucite cylinder rotating in a roller bottle apparatus at approximately 1 rev/min for approximately 15 hours at 37° C. using a hybridization mix of 40% formamide, 5×Denhardts, 5×SSPE, and 0.1% SDS. Following hybridization, the non-specific counts are washed off the filters in 0.1×SSPE, 0.1% SDS at 50° C.

Examples demonstrating the tissue distribution of various morphogens, including Vgr-1, OP-1, BMP2, BMP3, BMP4, BMP5, GDF-1, and OP-2 in developing and adult tissue are disclosed in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 07/752,764, abandoned and continued as U.S. patent application Ser. Nos. 08/404,113 and 08/396,684, and in Ozkaynak, et al., (1991) Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commn. 179:116-123, and Ozkaynak, et al. (1992) J. Biol. Chem. 267: 25220-25227, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference. Using the general probing methodology described herein, Northern blot hybridizations using probes specific for these morphogens to probe brain, spleen, lung, heart, liver and kidney tissue indicate that kidney-related tissue appears to be the primary expression source for OP-1, with brain, heart and lung tissues being secondary sources. OP-1 mRNA also was identified in salivary glands, specifically rat parotid glands, using this probingmethodology. Lung tissue appears to be the primary tissue expression source for Vgr-1, BMP5, BMP4 and BMP3. Lower levels of Vgr-1 also are seen in kidney and heart tissue, while the liver appears to be a secondary expression source for BMP5, and the spleen appears to be a secondary expression source for BMP4. GDF-1 appears to be expressed primarily in brain tissue. To date, OP-2 appears to be expressed primarily in early embryonic tissue. Specifically, Northern blots of murine embryos and 6-day post-natal animals shows abundant OP2 expression in 8-day embryos. Expression is reduced significantly in 17-day embryos and is not detected in post-natal animals.

Immunolocalization studies using OP-1 specific antibodies also localize the morphogen to both the inner circular and outer longitudinal coats of smooth muscles in the tubular organs of the digestive system during early embryo development (gestation: weeks 5-13), suggesting the endogenous morphogen also plays a role in tissue morphogenesis of the digestive tract.

Moreover, Northern blot analysis on rat tissue (probed with an mOP-1-specific labelled nucleotide fragment, as described above) identifies OP-1 mRNA in the gastrointestinal tract tissues of growing rats, including the stomach, duodenal and intestine tissues. These data demonstrate that morphogens are both expressed in, and act on, tissues of the GI tract.

Example 2 Active Morphogens in Body Fluids

OP-1 expression has been identified in saliva (specifically, the rat parotid gland, see Example 1), human blood serum, and various milk forms, including mammary gland extract, colostrum, and 57-day bovine milk. Moreover, and as described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 07/923,780, filed Jul. 31, 1992, abandoned and continued as Ser. No. 08/432,883 the disclosure of which is incorporated hereinabove by reference, the body fluid-extracted protein is morphogenically active. The discovery that the morphogen naturally is present in milk and saliva, together with the known observation that mature, active OP-1 is acid-stable and protease-resistant, indicate that oral administration is a useful route for therapeutic administration of morphogen to a mammal. Oral administration typically is the preferred mode of delivery for extended or prophylactic therapies. In addition, the identification of morphogen in all milk forms, including colostrum, suggests that the protein may play a significant role in tissue development, including skeletal development, of juveniles.

2.1 Morphogen Detection in Milk

OP-1 was partially purified from rat mammary gland extract and bovine colostrum and 57 day milk by passing these fluids over a series of chromatography columns: (e.g., cation-exchange, affinity and reverse phase). At each step the eluant was collected in fractions and these were tested for the presence of OP-1 by standard immunoblot. Immunoreactive fractions then were combined and purified further. The final, partially purified product then was examined for the presence of OP-1 by Western blot analysis using OP-1-specific antisera, and tested for in vivo and in vitro activity.

OP-1 purified from the different milk sources were characterized by Western blotting using antibodies raised against OP-1 and BMP2. Antibodies were prepared using standard immunology protocols well known in the art, and as described generally in Example 15, below, using full-length E. coli-produced OP-1 and BMP2 as the immunogens. In all cases, the purified OP-1 reacted only with the anti-OP-1 antibody, and not with anti-BMP2 antibody.

The morphogenic activity of OP-1 purified from mammary gland extract was evaluated in vivo essentially following the rat model assay described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,968,590, hereby incorporated by reference. Briefly, a sample was prepared from each OP-1 immunoreactive fraction of the mammary gland extract-derived OP-1 final product by lyophilizing a portion (33%) of the fraction and resuspending the protein in 220 μl of 50% acetonitrile/0.1% TFA. After vortexing, 25 mg of collagen matrix was added. The samples were lyophilized overnight, and implanted in Long Evans rats (Charles River Laboratories, Wilmington, Mass., 28-35 days old). Each fraction was implanted in duplicate. For details of the collagen matrix implantation procedure, see, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,968,590, hereby incorporated by reference. After 12 days, the implants were removed and evaluated for new bone formation by histological observation as described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,968,590. In all cases, the immunoreactive fractions were osteogenically active.

2.2 Morphogen Detection in Serum

Morphogen may be detected in serum using morphogen-specific antibodies. The assay may be performed using any standard immunoassay, such as Western blot (immunoblot) and the like. Preferably, the assay is performed using an affinity column to which the morphogen-specific antibody is bound and through which the sample serum then is poured, to selectively extract the morphogen of interest. The morphogen then is eluted. A suitable elution buffer may be determined empirically by determining appropriate binding and elution conditions first with a control (e.g., purified, recombinantly-produced morphogen.) Fractions then are tested for the presence of the morphogen by standard immunoblot, and the results confirmed by N-terminal sequencing. Preferably, the affinity column is prepared using monoclonal antibodies. Morphogen concentrations in serum or other fluid samples then may be determined using standard protein quantification techniques, including by spectrophotometric absorbance or by quantitation of conjugated antibody.

Presented below is a sample protocol for identifying OP-1 in serum. Following this general methodology other morphogens may be detected in body fluids, including serum. The identification of morphogen in serum further indicates that systemic administration is a suitable means for providing therapeutic concentrations of a morphogen to an individual, and that morphogens likely behave systemically as endocrine-like factors. Finally, using this protocol, fluctuations in endogenous morphogen levels can be detected, and these altered levels may be used as an indicator of tissue dysfunction.

Alternatively, fluctuations in morphogen levels may be assessed by monitoring morphogen transcription levels, either by standard Northern blot analysis as described in Example 1, or by in situ hybridization, using a labelled probe capable of hybridizing specifically to morphogen mRNA, and standard RNA hybridization protocols well described in the art and described generally in Example 1.

OP-1 was detected in human serum using the following assay. A monoclonal antibody raised against mammalian, recombinantly produced OP-1 using standard immunology techniques well described in the art and described generally in Example 15, was immobilized by passing the antibody over an agarose-activated gel (e.g., Affi-Gel™, from Bio-Rad Laboratories, Richmond, Calif., prepared following manufacturer's instructions) and used to purify OP-1 from serum. Human serum then was passed over the column and eluted with 3M K-thiocyanate. K-thiocyanante fractions then were dialyzed in 6M urea, 20 mM PO₄, pH 7.0, applied to a C8 HPLC column, and eluted with a 20 minute, 25-50% acetonitrile/0.1% TFA gradient. Since mature, recombinantly produced OP-1 homodimers elute between 20-22 minutes, these fractions then were collected and tested for the presence of OP-1 by standard immunoblot using an OP-1 specific antibody as for Example 2.A.

Administered or endogenous morphogen levels may be monitored in the therapies described herein by comparing the quantity of morphogen present in a body fluid sample with a predetermined reference value, for example, to evaluate the efficiency of a therapeutic protocol, and the like. In addition, fluctuations in the level of endogenous morphogen antibodies may be detected by this method, most likely in serum, using an antibody or other binding protein capable of interacting specifically with the endogenous morphogen antibody. Detected fluctuations in the levels of the morphogen or endogenous antibody may be used, for example, as indicators of a change in tissue status. For example, as damaged tissue is regenerated and the tissue or organ's function returns to "normal" and, in the absence of additional tissue damage, lower doses of morphogen may be required, and a higher level of circulating morphogen antibody may be measured.

Example 3 Morphogen Treatment of Oral Mucositis

Oral mucositis involves ulcerations of the mouth as a consequence of, e.g., radiation therapy or chemotherapy. The course of ulcerative mucositis may be divided into a destructive phase and a healing phase. Since the cells of the basal layer of the oral epithelium divide at a rapid rate, they are susceptible to the antimitogenic and toxic effects of chemotherapy. As a result, atrophic changes occur which then are followed by ulceration. This constitutes the destructive phase. Following ulcer formation, the lesions slowly resolve during the healing phase.

The example below demonstrates morphogen efficacy in protecting the oral mucosa from oral mucositis in a hamster model, including both inhibiting ulceration and enhancing regeneration of ulcerated tissue. Details of the protocol can be found in Sonis, et al., (1990) Oral Surg. Oral Med. Oral Pathol 69: 437-443, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. Briefly, golden syrian hamsters (6-8 wks old, Charles River Laboratories, Wilmington, Mass.) were divided into 3 test groups: Group 1, a placebo (e.g., saline) control, and a morphogen low dose group (100 ng) and a morphogen high dose group (1 μg), Groups 2 and 3, respectively. Morphogen dosages were provided in 30% ethanol. Each group contained 12 animals.

Beginning on day 0 and continuing through day 5, Groups 2 and 3 received twice daily morphogen applications. On day 3, all groups began the mucositis-induction procedure. 5-fluorouracil was injected intraperitoneally on days 3 (60 mg/kg) and 5 (40 mg/kg). On day 7, the right buccal pouch mucosa was superficially irritated with a calibrated 18 gauge needle. In untreated animals, severe ulcerative mucositis was induced in at least 80% of the animals by day 10.

For each administration of the vehicle control (placebo) or morphogen, administration was performed by first gently drying the cheek pouch mucosa, then providing an even application over the mucosal surface of the vehicle or morphogen material. A hydroxypropylcellulose-based coating was used to maintain contact of the morphogen with the mucosa. This coating provided at least 4 hours of contact time.

On day 12, two animals in each group were sacrificed for histological studies. The right buccal pouch mucosa and underlying connective tissue were dissected and fixed in 10% formalin using standard dissection and histology procedures. The specimens were mounted in paraffin and prepared for histologic examination. Sections then were stained with hematoxylin and eosin and were examined blindly by three oral pathologists with expertise in hamster histology and scored blind against a standard mucositis panel. The extent of atrophy, cellular infiltration, connective tissue breakdown, degree of ulceration and epithelialization were assessed.

The mean mucositis score for each group was determined daily for each experimental group for a period of 21 days by photography and visual examination of the right buccal cheek pouch. Differences between groups were determined using the Students' `t` test. In addition, data was evaluated between groups by comparing the numbers of animals with severe mucositis using Chi Square statistical analysis. The significance of differences in mean daily weights also was determined.

The experimental results are presented in FIGS. 1 and 2. FIG. 1 graphs the effect of morphogen (high dose, squares; low dose, triangles) and placebo (dots) on mean mucositis scores. Both low and high morphogen doses inhibit lesion formation significantly in a dose-dependent manner. FIG. 2 (A and B) are photomicrographs of a buccal cheek pouch on day 14, pretreated with morphogen, high dose (B) or saline alone (A). Significant tissue necrosis, indicated by the dark regions in the tissue, and ulceration, indicated by the light globular areas in the tissue, is evident in the untreated pouch in FIG. 2A. By contrast, the morphogen-treated tissue in FIG. 2B shows healthy tissue with no necrosis and little or no ulceration. In addition, histology results consistently showed significantly reduced amounts of tissue atrophy, cellular debris, and immune effector cells, including activated macrophages and neutrophils, in the morphogen-treated animals, as compared with the untreated, control animals.

In a variation on this protocol, morphogen also may be administered daily for several days before mucositis-induction and/or for longer periods following 5-fluorouracil treatments.

Example 4 Morphogen Treatment of Duodenal Ulcer Formation

The following example provides a rat model for demonstrating morphogen efficacy in treating duodenal ulcers. A detailed description of the protocol is provided in Pilan et al., (1985) Digestive Diseases and Sciences 30: 240-246, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

Briefly, Sprague-Dawley female rats (e.g., Charles River Laboratories, 150-200 grams) receive the duodenal ulcerogen cysteamine-HCl at a dose of 25-28 milligrams (mg) per 100 grams (gm) of body weight orally by intragastric gavage 3 times on the same day. Additionally, cortisol is administered subcutaneously to each rat at a single dose of 5 mg of cortisol to 100 gm of body weight to decrease the mortality resulting from the administration of the cysteamine-HCl.

Three days after administration of the cysteamine-HCl, rats having penetrating and perforating duodenal ulcers are identified by standard laparotomy and randomized into control and morphogen-treated groups.

The rats of Group 1, all of which have ulcers, receive no morphogen and are treated only with saline. The rats of Group 2 each of which also have ulcers, receive 50-100 ng of morphogen per 100 gm of body weight. Group 3 rats, all of which have ulcers, receive 200-500 ng of morphogen per 100 gm of body weight. All treatments are by gavage twice daily until autopsy on day 21, when the ulcers are measured and histologic sections taken.

Histology of duodenal sections from morphogen-treated animals shows healed ulcers with prominent and dense granulation tissue and partial or complete re-epitheliazation, demonstrating that oral administration of morphogen can significantly accelerate the healing of ulcers of the GI tract. Moreover, treatment with morphogen before or concomitantly with ulceration also inhibits ulcer formation.

Example 5 Gastric acid and Pepsin Secretion of Morphogen-Treated Rats

The following example demonstrates morphogen efficacy as determined by gastric acid and pepsin secretion. A detailed description of the protocol is provided in Pilan et al., disclosed above. Briefly, 18-20 rats are divided into 2 groups, a control group (Group 1) and a morphogen treated group (Group 2).

All rats are fasted for 24 hours and given either saline vehicle alone (Group 1) or morphogen (e.g., 500 ng/ml, Group 2). The stomachs of the rats then are constricted with a pyloric ligature for one hour.

Gastric juice is collected from each rat in groups 1 and 2, centrifuged and aliquots processed for acid titration to calculate gastric acid output and pepsin determination. Gastric acid is measured by the acidity of the gastric juices, and pepsin levels are determined according to standard protease assays well-known in the art. Since pepsin is the most abundant protease in the stomach, the total protease level is a good measurement of the pepsin level. The gastric juice aliquots are spectrophotometrically analyzed using albumin as a substrate. (Szabo, S. et al. (1977) Res. Comm. Chem. Pathol. Pharmacol. 16: 311-323, hereby incorporated by reference).

In both control and morphogen-treated rats normal levels of gastric pepsin output and gastric juice volume can be measured. Thus, morphogen treatment of ulcers of the GI tract does not affect the normal levels of gastric acid or pepsin in the GI tract.

Example 6 Morphogen Treatment of Ulcerative Colitis

Ulcerative colitis involves ulcers of the colon. The example provided below demonstrates morphogen efficacy in treating ulcerative colitis using a guinea pig model. A detailed description of the protocol is provided in Onderdonk et al. (1979) Amer. J. Clin. Nutr. 32: 258-265, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

Briefly, guinea pigs, (e.g., 500-550 gms, Charles River Laboratories) are divided into 3 experimental groups, each group containing multiple animals: a control, Group 1, which receives distilled water to drink; Group 2, which receives distilled water containing 1% degraded carrageenin; and Group 3, which receives distilled water containing 5% degraded carrageenin to drink. Degraded carrageenin is a polysaccharide derived from red seaweeds, (Glaxo Laboratories, Paris, France), and is a known inducer of ulcerative colitis in guinea pigs.

The development of colitis is determined using several criteria: 1) presence of loose and/or bloody feces by visual inspection, 2) detection of occult blood in the feces using Coloscreen III with hemocult developer (Helena Labs, Bumont, Tex.), and 3) weight loss.

At day 25, each animal is anesthetized with Ketamine (3-5 mg/kg) administered intramuscularly and a 3 mm colorectal mucosa biopsy taken using a small nasal scope. All of the specimens are fixed in 15% formaldehyde and examined histologically using hematoxylin and eosin. The pathologic diagnosis of ulcerative colitis is established by the presence of crypt abscesses, lymphocytic infiltration, capillary congestion of the lamina propria and ulceration of the colon mucosa (Onderdonk, (1985) Digestive Disease Science 30:40(s), hereby incorporated by reference). The severity of ulcerative colitis is graded on a scale of 0 to 3 and expressed as the pathological index according to the standard scoring system (Onderdonk et al. (1979), Amer. J. Clin. Nutrition 32:258.)

At day 30, 25% of the guinea pigs in which ulcerative colitis was demonstrated histologically are treated with morphogen and the remaining 25% receive distilled water as a control. Morphogen is administered both at a low dose (e.g., 100 ng/100 gm) in one half of the guinea pigs; and at a high dose (e.g., 500-1000 ng/100 gm), administered orally through a 3 mm bulbed needle, twice per day for a period of 10 days (days 28-37).

During treatment, the animals are evaluated clinically and improvements in body weight, stool consistency and reduction or absence of blood in stools recorded. At day 37, all animals are sacrificed with an overdose of pentobarbital (>200 mg/kg) and the entire colon removed for histological evaluation. Colon ulcers in morphogen treated animals are significantly repaired and healed as compared with untreated ulcers.

Example 7 Morphogen Inhibition of Epithelial Cell Proliferation

This example demonstrates the ability of morphogens to inhibit epithelial cell proliferation in vitro, as determined by ³ H-thymidine uptake using culture cells from a mink lung epithelial cell line (ATCC No. CCL 64, Rockville, Md.), and standard mammalian cell culturing procedures. Briefly, cells were grown to confluency in Eagle's minimum essential medium (EMEM) supplemented with 10% fetal bovine serum (FBS), 200 units/ml penicillin, and 200 μg/ml streptomycin, and used to seed a 48-well cell culture plate at a cell density of 200,000 cells per well. When this culture became confluent, the media was replaced with 0.5 ml of EMEM containing 1% FBS and penicillin/streptomycin and the culture incubated for 24 hours at 37 C. Morphogen test samples in EMEM containing 5% FBS then were added to the wells, and the cells incubated for another 18 hours. After incubation, 1.0 μCi of ³ H-thymidine in 10 μl was added to each well, and the cells incubated for four hours at 37 C. The media then was removed and the cells washed once with ice-cold phosphate-buffer saline and DNA precipitated by adding 0.5 ml of 10% TCA to each well and incubating at room temperature of 15 minutes. The cells then were washed three times with ice-cold distilled water, lysed with 0.5 ml 0.4 M NaOH, and the lysate from each well then transferred to a scintillation vial and the radioactivity recorded using a scintillation counter (Smith-Kline Beckman).

The results are presented in FIG. 3A and 3B. The anti-proliferative effect of the various morphogens tested was expressed as the counts of 3H-thymidine (×1000) integrated into DNA. In this example, the biosynthetic constructs COP-5 and COP-7 were tested in duplicate: COP-7-1 (10 ng) and COP-7-2 (3 ng, FIG. 3A), and COP-5-1 (66 ng) and COP-5-2 (164 ng, FIG. 3B.) Morphogens were compared with untreated cells (negative control) and TGF-β (1 ng), a local-acting factor also known to inhibit epithelial cell proliferation. COP-5 and COP-7 previously have been shown to have osteogenic activity, capable of inducing the complete cascade resulting in endochondral bone formation in a standard rat bone assay (see U.S. Pat. No. 5,011,691.) As is evident in the figure, the morphogens significantly inhibit cell epithelial cell proliferation. Similar experiments, performed with the morphogens COP-16 and bOP (bone-purified osteogenic protein, a dimeric protein comprising CBMP2 and OP-1) and recombinant OP-1 also inhibit cell proliferation. bOP and COP-16 also induce endochondral bone formation (see U.S. Pat. No. 4,968,590 and 5,011,691.)

Example 8 Morphogen Inhibition of Cellular and Humoral Inflammatory Response

Morphogens described herein inhibit multinucleation of mononuclear phagocytic cells under conditions where these cells normally would be activated, e.g., in response to a tissue injury or the presence of a foreign substance. For example, and as described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 07/938,336, filed Aug. 28, 1992, abandoned and continued as Ser. Nos. 08/445,467 and 08/600,352, in the absence of morphogen, an planted substrate material (e.g., implanted subcutaneously) composed of, for example, mineralized bone, a ceramic such as titanium oxide or any other substrate that provokes multinucleated giant cell formation, rapidly becomes surrounded by multinucleated giant cells, e.g., activated phagocytes stimulated to respond and destroy the foreign object. In the presence of morphogen however, the recruited cells remain in their mononuclear precursor form and the matrix material is undisturbed. Accordingly, the morphogens' effect in maintaining the integrity of the GI tract luminal lining also may include inhibiting activation of these immune effector cells.

In addition, the morphogens described herein also suppress antibody production stimulated in response to a foreign antigen in a mammal. Specifically, when bovine bone collagen matrix alone was implanted in a bony site in a rat, a standard antibody response to the collagen was stimulated in the rat as determined by standard anti-bovine collagen ELISA experiments performed on blood samples taken at four week intervals following implantation (e.g., between 12 and 20 weeks.) Serum anti-collagen antibody titers, measured by ELISA essentially following the procedure described by Nagler-Anderson et al, (1986) PNAS 83:7443-7446, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference, increased consistently throughout the experiment. However, when the matrix was implanted together with a morphogen (e.g., OP-1, dispersed in the matrix and adsorbed thereto, essentially as described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,968,590) anti-bovine collagen antibody production was suppressed significantly. This ability of morphogen to suppress the humoral response is further evidence of morphogen utility in alleviating tissue damage associated with GI tract ulceration.

Example 9 Morphogen Effect on Fibrogenesis and Scar Tissue Formation

The morphogens described herein induce tissue morphogenesis of damaged or lost tissue. The ability of these proteins to regenerate new tissue enhances the anti-inflammatory effect of these proteins. Provided below are a series of in vitro experiments demonstrating the ability of morphogens to induce migration and accumulation of mesenchymal cells. In addition, the experiments demonstrate that morphogens, unlike TGF-β, do not stimulate fibrogenesis or scar tissue formation. Specifically, morphogens do not stimulate production of collagen, hyaluronic acid (HA) or metalloproteinases in primary fibroblasts, all of which are associated with fibrogenesis or scar tissue formation. By contrast, TGF-β, a known inducer of fibrosis, but not of tissue morphogenesis as defined herein, does stimulate production of these markers of fibrosis.

Chemotaxis and migration of mesenchymal progenitor cells were measured in modified Boyden chambers essentially as described by Fava, R. A. et al (1991) J. Exp. Med. 173: 1121-1132, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference, using polycarbonate filters of 2, 3 and 8 micron ports to measure migration of progenitor neutrophils, monocytes and fibroblasts. Chemotaxis was measured over a range of morphogen concentrations, e.g., 10⁻²⁰ M to 10⁻¹² M OP-1. For progenitor neutrophils and monocytes, 10⁻¹⁸ -10⁻¹⁷ M OP-1 consistently induced maximal migration, and 10⁻¹⁴ to 10⁻¹³ M OP-1 maximally induced migration of progenitor fibroblasts. In all cases the chemotactic activity could be inhibited with anti-OP-1 antibody. Similar migration activities also were measured and observed with TGF-β.

The effect of morphogen on fibrogenesis was determined by evaluating fibroblast production of hyaluronic acid (HA), collagen, collagenase and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases (TIMP).

Human fibroblasts were established from explants of infant foreskins and maintained in monolayer culture using standard culturing procedures. (See, for example, (1976) J. Exp. Med. 144: 1188-1203.) Briefly, fibroblasts were grown in maintenance medium consisting of Eagle's MEM, supplemented with nonessential amino acids, ascorbic acid (50 μg/ml), NaHCO₃ and HEPES buffers (pH 7.2), penicillin (100 U/ml), streptomycin (100 μg/ml), amphotericin B (1 μg/ml) and 9% heat inactivated FCS. Fibroblasts used as target cells to measure chemotaxis were maintained in 150 mm diameter glass petri dishes. Fibroblasts used in assays to measure synthesis of collagen, hyaluronic acid, collagenase and tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases (TIMP) were grown in 100 mm diameter plastic tissue culture petri dishes.

The effects of morphogen on fibroblast production of hyaluronic acid, collagens, collagenase and TIMP were determined by standard assays (See, for example, Posttethwaite et al. (1989) J. Clin. Invest. 83: 629-636, Posttethwaithe (1988) J./ Cell Biol. 106: 311-318 and Clark et al (1985) Arch. Bio-chem Biophys. 241: 36-44, the disclosures of which are incorporated by reference.) For these assays, fibroblasts were transferred to 24-well tissue culture plates at a density of 8×10⁴ cells per well. Fibroblasts were grown confluency in maintenance medium containing 9% FCS for 72 h and then grown in serum-free maintenance medium for 24 h. Medium was then removed from each well and various concentrations of OP-1 (recombinantly produced mature or soluble form) or TGF-β-1 (R&D Systems, Minneapolis) in 50 μl PBS were added to triplicate wells containing the confluent fibroblast monolayers. For experiments that measured production of collagenase and TIMP, maintenance medium (450 μl) containing 5% FCS was added to each well, and culture supernatants were harvested from each well 48 h later and stored at -70° C. until assayed. For experiments that assessed HA production, maintenance medium (450 μl) containing 2.5% FCS was added to each well, and cultures grown for 48 h. For experiments that measured fibroblast production of collagens, serum-free maintenance medium (450 μl) without non-essential amino acids was added to each well and cultures grown for 72 h. Fibroblast production of HA was measured by labeling newly synthesized glycosaminoglycans (GAG) with [³ H]-acetate the last 24 h of culture and quantitating released radioactivity after incubation with hyaluronidase from Streptomyces hyalurolyticus (ICN Biochemicals, Cleveland, Ohio) which specifically degrades hyaluronic acid. Production of total collagen by fibroblasts was measured using a collagenase-sensitive protein assay that reflects [³ H]-proline incorporation the last 24 h of culture into newly synthesized collagens. Collagenase and TIMP protein levels in fibroblast cultures supernatants was measured by specific ELISAs.

As shown in FIG. 4, OP1 does not stimulate significant collagen or HA production, as compared with TGF-β. In the figure, panel A shows OP-1 efect on collagen production, panel B shows TGF-β effect on collagen production, and panels C and D show OP-1 (panel C) and TGF-β (panel D) effect on HA production. The morphogen results were the same whether the soluble or mature form of OP1 was used. By contrast, the latent form of TGF-β (e.g., pro domain-associated form of TGF-β) was not active.

Example 10 Screening Assay for Candidate Compounds which Alter Endogenous Morphogen Levels

Candidate compound(s) which may be administered to affect the level of a given morphogen may be found using the following screening assay, in which the level of morphogen production by a cell type which produces measurable levels of the morphogen is determined with and without incubating the cell in culture with the compound, in order to assess the effects of the compound on the cell. This can be accomplished by detection of the morphogen either at the protein or RNA level. A more detailed description also may be found in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 07/752,861, filed Aug. 30, 1991, abandoned and continued as U.S. patent application Ser. Nos. 08/278,729, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,650,276, 08/451,953 now U.S. Pat. No. 5,741,641 and 08/643,563 now U.S. Pat. No. 5,707,810 incorporated herein by reference.

10.1 Growth of Cells in Culture

Cell cultures of kidney, adrenals, urinary bladder, brain, or other organs, may be prepared as described widely in the literature. For example, kidneys may be explanted from neonatal or new born or young or adult rodents (mouse or rat) and used in organ culture as whole or sliced (1-4 mm) tissues. Primary tissue cultures and established cell lines, also derived from kidney, adrenals, urinary, bladder, brain, mammary, or other tissues may be established in multiwell plates (6 well or 24 well) according to conventional cell culture techniques, and are cultured in the absence or presence of serum for a period of time (1-7 days). Cells may be cultured, for example, in Dulbecco's Modified Eagle medium (Gibco, Long Island, N.Y.) containing serum (e.g., fetal calf serum at 1%-10%, Gibco) or in serum-deprived medium, as desired, or in defined medium (e.g., containing insulin, transferrin, glucose, albumin, or other growth factors).

Samples for testing the level of morphogen production includes culture supernatants or cell lysates, collected periodically and evaluated for OP-1 production by immunoblot analysis (Sambrook et al., eds., 1989, Molecular Cloning, Cold Spring Harbor Press, Cold Spring Harbor, N.Y.), or a portion of the cell culture itself, collected periodically and used to prepare poly A+ RNA for RNA analysis. To monitor de novo OP-1 synthesis, some cultures are labeled according to conventional procedures with an ³⁵ S-methionine/³⁵ S-cysteine mixture for 6-24 hours and then evaluated to OP-1 synthesis by conventional immunoprecipitation methods.

10.2 Determination of Level of Morphogenic Protein

In order to quantitate the production of a morphogenic protein by a cell type, an immunoassay may be performed to detect the morphogen using a polyclonal or monoclonal antibody specific for that protein. For example, OP-1 may be detected using a polyclonal antibody specific for OP-1 in an ELISA, as follows.

1 μg/100 μl of affinity-purified polyclonal rabbit IgG specific for OP-1 is added to each well of a 96-well plate and incubated at 37° C. for an hour. The wells are washed four times with 0.167M sodium borate buffer with 0.15 M NaCl (BSB), pH 8.2, containing 0.1% Tween 20. To minimize non-specific binding, the wells are blocked by filling completely with 1% bovine serum albumin (BSA) in BSB and incubating for 1 hour at 37° C. The wells are then washed four times with BSB containing 0.1% Tween 20. A 100 μl aliquot of an appropriate dilution of each of the test samples of cell culture supernatant is added to each well in triplicate and incubated at 37° C. for 30 min. After incubation, 100 μl biotinylated rabbit anti-OP-1 serum (stock solution is about 1 mg/ml and diluted 1:400 in BSB containing 1% BSA before use) is added to each well and incubated at 37° C. for 30 min. The wells are then washed four times with BSB containing 0.1% Tween 20. 100 μl strepavidin-alkaline phosphatase (Southern Biotechnology Associates, Inc. Birmingham, Ala., diluted 1:2000 in BSB containing 0.1% Tween 20 before use) is added to each well and incubated at 37° C. for 30 min. The plates are washed four times with 0.5M Tris buffered Saline (TBS), pH 7.2. 50 μl substrate (ELISA Amplification System Kit, Life Technologies, Inc., Bethesda, Md.) is added to each well incubated at room temperature for 15 min. Then, 50 μl amplifier (from the same amplification system kit) is added and incubated for another 15 min at room temperature. The reaction is stopped by the addition of 50 μl 0.3 M sulphuric acid. The OD at 490 nm of the solution in each well is recorded. To quantitate OP-1 in culture media, a OP-1 standard curve is performed in parallel with the test samples.

Polyclonal antibody may be prepared as follows. Each rabbit is given a primary immunization of 100 ug/500 μl E. coli produced OP-1 monomer (amino acids 328-431 in SEQ ID NO:5) in 0.1% SDS mixed with 500 μl Complete Freund's Adjuvant. The antigen is injected subcutaneously at multiple sites on the back and flanks of the animal. The rabbit is boosted after a month in the same manner using incomplete Freund's Adjuvant. Test bleeds are taken from the ear vein seven days later. Additional boosts and test bleeds are performed at monthly intervals until antibody against OP-1 is detected in the serum using an ELISA assay. Then, the rabbit is boosted with 100 μg of antigen and bled (15 ml per bleed) at days seven and ten after boosting.

Monoclonal antibody specific for a given morphogen may be prepared as follows. A mouse is given two injections of E. coli produced OP-1 monomer. The first injection contains 100 μg of OP-1 in complete Freund's adjuvant and is given subcutaneously. The second injection contains 50 μg of OP-1 in incomplete adjuvant and is given intraperitoneally. The mouse then receives a total of 230 μg of OP-1 (amino acids 307-431 in SEQ ID NO:5) in four intraperitoneal injections at various times over an eight month period. One week prior to fusion, the mouse is boosted intraperitoneally with 100 μg of OP-1 (307-431) and 30 μg of the N-terminal peptide (Ser₂₉₃ -Asn₃₀₉ -Cys) conjugated through the added cysteine to bovine serum albumin with SMCC crosslinking agent. This boost was repeated five days (IP), four days (IP), three days (IP) and one day (IV) prior to fusion. The mouse spleen cells are then fused to myeloma (e.g., 653) cells at a ratio of 1:1 using PEG 1500 (Boeringer Mannheim), and the cell fusion is plated and screened for OP-1-specific antibodies using OP-1 (307-431) as antigen. The cell fusion and monoclonal screening then are according to standard procedures well described in standard texts widely available in the art.

The invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. The present embodiments are therefore to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description, and all changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are therefore intended to be embraced therein.

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#D IN THE SPECIFICATION."                           #ID NO:4: (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ                                       - Cys Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Leu Tyr Val Xaa Phe Xa - #a Xaa Xaa Gly Trp Xaa          #                15                                                            - Xaa Trp Xaa Xaa Ala Pro Xaa Gly Xaa Xaa Al - #a Xaa Tyr Cys Xaa Gly          #            30                                                                - Xaa Cys Xaa Xaa Pro Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xa - #a Xaa Xaa Asn His Ala          #        45                                                                    - Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Leu Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xa - #a Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa          #    60                                                                        - Xaa Cys Cys Xaa Pro Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xa - #a Xaa Xaa Leu Xaa Xaa          #80                                                                            - Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Val Xaa Leu Xaa Xaa Xa - #a Xaa Xaa Met Xaa Val          #                95                                                            - Xaa Xaa Cys Gly Cys Xaa                                                                  100                                                                - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:5:                                             -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                           #acids    (A) LENGTH: 139 amino                                                          (B) TYPE: amino acid                                                           (C) STRANDEDNESS: single                                                       (D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                 -     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: protein                                              -     (vi) ORIGINAL SOURCE:                                                              (A) ORGANISM: Homo sapi - #ens                                                 (F) TISSUE TYPE: HIPPOC - #AMPUS                                     -     (ix) FEATURE:                                                                      (A) NAME/KEY: Protein                                                          (B) LOCATION: 1..139                                                 #/label= hOP1-MATUREINFORMATION:                                               #ID NO:5: (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ                                       - Ser Thr Gly Ser Lys Gln Arg Ser Gln Asn Ar - #g Ser Lys Thr Pro Lys          #                15                                                            - Asn Gln Glu Ala Leu Arg Met Ala Asn Val Al - #a Glu Asn Ser Ser Ser          #            30                                                                - Asp Gln Arg Gln Ala Cys Lys Lys His Glu Le - #u Tyr Val Ser Phe Arg          #        45                                                                    - Asp Leu Gly Trp Gln Asp Trp Ile Ile Ala Pr - #o Glu Gly Tyr Ala Ala          #    60                                                                        - Tyr Tyr Cys Glu Gly Glu Cys Ala Phe Pro Le - #u Asn Ser Tyr Met Asn          #80                                                                            - Ala Thr Asn His Ala Ile Val Gln Thr Leu Va - #l His Phe Ile Asn Pro          #                95                                                            - Glu Thr Val Pro Lys Pro Cys Cys Ala Pro Th - #r Gln Leu Asn Ala Ile          #           110                                                                - Ser Val Leu Tyr Phe Asp Asp Ser Ser Asn Va - #l Ile Leu Lys Lys Tyr          #       125                                                                    - Arg Asn Met Val Val Arg Ala Cys Gly Cys Hi - #s                              #   135                                                                        - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:6:                                             -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                           #acids    (A) LENGTH: 139 amino                                                          (B) TYPE: amino acid                                                           (C) STRANDEDNESS: single                                                       (D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                 -     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: protein                                              -     (vi) ORIGINAL SOURCE:                                                              (A) ORGANISM: MURIDAE                                                          (F) TISSUE TYPE: EMBRYO                                              -     (ix) FEATURE:                                                                      (A) NAME/KEY: Protein                                                          (B) LOCATION: 1..139                                                 #/label= MOP1-MATUREINFORMATION:                                               #ID NO:6: (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ                                       - Ser Thr Gly Gly Lys Gln Arg Ser Gln Asn Ar - #g Ser Lys Thr Pro Lys          #                15                                                            - Asn Gln Glu Ala Leu Arg Met Ala Ser Val Al - #a Glu Asn Ser Ser Ser          #            30                                                                - Asp Gln Arg Gln Ala Cys Lys Lys His Glu Le - #u Tyr Val Ser Phe Arg          #        45                                                                    - Asp Leu Gly Trp Gln Asp Trp Ile Ile Ala Pr - #o Glu Gly Tyr Ala Ala          #    60                                                                        - Tyr Tyr Cys Glu Gly Glu Cys Ala Phe Pro Le - #u Asn Ser Tyr Met Asn          #80                                                                            - Ala Thr Asn His Ala Ile Val Gln Thr Leu Va - #l His Phe Ile Asn Pro          #                95                                                            - Asp Thr Val Pro Lys Pro Cys Cys Ala Pro Th - #r Gln Leu Asn Ala Ile          #           110                                                                - Ser Val Leu Tyr Phe Asp Asp Ser Ser Asn Va - #l Ile Leu Lys Lys Tyr          #       125                                                                    - Arg Asn Met Val Val Arg Ala Cys Gly Cys Hi - #s                              #   135                                                                        - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:7:                                             -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                           #acids    (A) LENGTH: 139 amino                                                          (B) TYPE: amino acid                                                           (C) STRANDEDNESS: single                                                       (D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                 -     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: protein                                              -     (vi) ORIGINAL SOURCE:                                                              (A) ORGANISM: HOMO SAPI - #ENS                                                 (F) TISSUE TYPE: HIPPOC - #AMPUS                                     -     (ix) FEATURE:                                                                      (A) NAME/KEY: Protein                                                          (B) LOCATION: 1..139                                                 #/label= HOP2-MATUREINFORMATION:                                               #ID NO:7: (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ                                       - Ala Val Arg Pro Leu Arg Arg Arg Gln Pro Ly - #s Lys Ser Asn Glu Leu          #                15                                                            - Pro Gln Ala Asn Arg Leu Pro Gly Ile Phe As - #p Asp Val His Gly Ser          #            30                                                                - His Gly Arg Gln Val Cys Arg Arg His Glu Le - #u Tyr Val Ser Phe Gln          #        45                                                                    - Asp Leu Gly Trp Leu Asp Trp Val Ile Ala Pr - #o Gln Gly Tyr Ser Ala          #    60                                                                        - Tyr Tyr Cys Glu Gly Glu Cys Ser Phe Pro Le - #u Asp Ser Cys Met Asn          #80                                                                            - Ala Thr Asn His Ala Ile Leu Gln Ser Leu Va - #l His Leu Met Lys Pro          #                95                                                            - Asn Ala Val Pro Lys Ala Cys Cys Ala Pro Th - #r Lys Leu Ser Ala Thr          #           110                                                                - Ser Val Leu Tyr Tyr Asp Ser Ser Asn Asn Va - #l Ile Leu Arg Lys His          #       125                                                                    - Arg Asn Met Val Val Lys Ala Cys Gly Cys Hi - #s                              #   135                                                                        - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:8:                                             -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                           #acids    (A) LENGTH: 139 amino                                                          (B) TYPE: amino acid                                                           (C) STRANDEDNESS: single                                                       (D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                 -     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: protein                                              -     (vi) ORIGINAL SOURCE:                                                              (A) ORGANISM: MURIDAE                                                          (F) TISSUE TYPE: EMBRYO                                              -     (ix) FEATURE:                                                                      (A) NAME/KEY: Protein                                                          (B) LOCATION: 1..139                                                 #/label= MOP2-MATUREINFORMATION:                                               #ID NO:8: (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ                                       - Ala Ala Arg Pro Leu Lys Arg Arg Gln Pro Ly - #s Lys Thr Asn Glu Leu          #                15                                                            - Pro His Pro Asn Lys Leu Pro Gly Ile Phe As - #p Asp Gly His Gly Ser          #            30                                                                - Arg Gly Arg Glu Val Cys Arg Arg His Glu Le - #u Tyr Val Ser Phe Arg          #        45                                                                    - Asp Leu Gly Trp Leu Asp Trp Val Ile Ala Pr - #o Gln Gly Tyr Ser Ala          #    60                                                                        - Tyr Tyr Cys Glu Gly Glu Cys Ala Phe Pro Le - #u Asp Ser Cys Met Asn          #80                                                                            - Ala Thr Asn His Ala Ile Leu Gln Ser Leu Va - #l His Leu Met Lys Pro          #                95                                                            - Asp Val Val Pro Lys Ala Cys Cys Ala Pro Th - #r Lys Leu Ser Ala Thr          #           110                                                                - Ser Val Leu Tyr Tyr Asp Ser Ser Asn Asn Va - #l Ile Leu Arg Lys His          #       125                                                                    - Arg Asn Met Val Val Lys Ala Cys Gly Cys Hi - #s                              #   135                                                                        - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:9:                                             -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                           #acids    (A) LENGTH: 101 amino                                                          (B) TYPE: amino acid                                                           (C) STRANDEDNESS: single                                                       (D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                 -     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: protein                                              -     (vi) ORIGINAL SOURCE:                                                              (A) ORGANISM: bovinae                                                -     (ix) FEATURE:                                                                      (A) NAME/KEY: Protein                                                          (B) LOCATION: 1..101                                                 #/label= CBMP-2A-FX INFORMATION:                                               #ID NO:9: (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ                                       - Cys Lys Arg His Pro Leu Tyr Val Asp Phe Se - #r Asp Val Gly Trp Asn          #                15                                                            - Asp Trp Ile Val Ala Pro Pro Gly Tyr His Al - #a Phe Tyr Cys His Gly          #            30                                                                - Glu Cys Pro Phe Pro Leu Ala Asp His Leu As - #n Ser Thr Asn His Ala          #        45                                                                    - Ile Val Gln Thr Leu Val Asn Ser Val Asn Se - #r Lys Ile Pro Lys Ala          #    60                                                                        - Cys Cys Val Pro Thr Glu Leu Ser Ala Ile Se - #r Met Leu Tyr Leu Asp          #80                                                                            - Glu Asn Glu Lys Val Val Leu Lys Asn Tyr Gl - #n Asp Met Val Val Glu          #                95                                                            - Gly Cys Gly Cys Arg                                                                      100                                                                - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:10:                                            -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                           #acids    (A) LENGTH: 101 amino                                                          (B) TYPE: amino acid                                                           (C) STRANDEDNESS: single                                                       (D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                 -     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: protein                                              -     (vi) ORIGINAL SOURCE:                                                              (A) ORGANISM: HOMO SAPI - #ENS                                                 (F) TISSUE TYPE: hippoc - #ampus                                     -     (ix) FEATURE:                                                                      (A) NAME/KEY: Protein                                                          (B) LOCATION: 1..101                                                 #/label= CBMP-2B-FX INFORMATION:                                               #ID NO:10:(xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ                                       - Cys Arg Arg His Ser Leu Tyr Val Asp Phe Se - #r Asp Val Gly Trp Asn          #                15                                                            - Asp Trp Ile Val Ala Pro Pro Gly Tyr Gln Al - #a Phe Tyr Cys His Gly          #            30                                                                - Asp Cys Pro Phe Pro Leu Ala Asp His Leu As - #n Ser Thr Asn His Ala          #        45                                                                    - Ile Val Gln Thr Leu Val Asn Ser Val Asn Se - #r Ser Ile Pro Lys Ala          #    60                                                                        - Cys Cys Val Pro Thr Glu Leu Ser Ala Ile Se - #r Met Leu Tyr Leu Asp          #80                                                                            - Glu Tyr Asp Lys Val Val Leu Lys Asn Tyr Gl - #n Glu Met Val Val Glu          #                95                                                            - Gly Cys Gly Cys Arg                                                                      100                                                                - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:11:                                            -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                           #acids    (A) LENGTH: 102 amino                                                          (B) TYPE: amino acid                                                           (C) STRANDEDNESS: single                                                       (D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                 -     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: protein                                              -     (vi) ORIGINAL SOURCE:                                                    #MELANOGASTER ORGANISM: DROSOPHILA                                             -     (ix) FEATURE:                                                                      (A) NAME/KEY: Protein                                                          (B) LOCATION: 1..101                                                 #/label= DPP-FXTHER INFORMATION:                                               #ID NO:11:(xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ                                       - Cys Arg Arg His Ser Leu Tyr Val Asp Phe Se - #r Asp Val Gly Trp Asp          #                15                                                            - Asp Trp Ile Val Ala Pro Leu Gly Tyr Asp Al - #a Tyr Tyr Cys His Gly          #            30                                                                - Lys Cys Pro Phe Pro Leu Ala Asp His Phe As - #n Ser Thr Asn His Ala          #        45                                                                    - Val Val Gln Thr Leu Val Asn Asn Asn Asn Pr - #o Gly Lys Val Pro Lys          #    60                                                                        - Ala Cys Cys Val Pro Thr Gln Leu Asp Ser Va - #l Ala Met Leu Tyr Leu          #80                                                                            - Asn Asp Gln Ser Thr Val Val Leu Lys Asn Ty - #r Gln Glu Met Thr Val          #                95                                                            - Val Gly Cys Gly Cys Arg                                                                  100                                                                - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:12:                                            -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                           #acids    (A) LENGTH: 102 amino                                                          (B) TYPE: amino acid                                                           (C) STRANDEDNESS: single                                                       (D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                 -     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: protein                                              -     (vi) ORIGINAL SOURCE:                                                              (A) ORGANISM: XENOPUS                                                -     (ix) FEATURE:                                                                      (A) NAME/KEY: Protein                                                          (B) LOCATION: 1..102                                                 #/label= VGL-FXTHER INFORMATION:                                               #ID NO:12:(xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ                                       - Cys Lys Lys Arg His Leu Tyr Val Glu Phe Ly - #s Asp Val Gly Trp Gln          #                15                                                            - Asn Trp Val Ile Ala Pro Gln Gly Tyr Met Al - #a Asn Tyr Cys Tyr Gly          #            30                                                                - Glu Cys Pro Tyr Pro Leu Thr Glu Ile Leu As - #n Gly Ser Asn His Ala          #        45                                                                    - Ile Leu Gln Thr Leu Val His Ser Ile Glu Pr - #o Glu Asp Ile Pro Leu          #    60                                                                        - Pro Cys Cys Val Pro Thr Lys Met Ser Pro Il - #e Ser Met Leu Phe Tyr          #80                                                                            - Asp Asn Asn Asp Asn Val Val Leu Arg His Ty - #r Glu Asn Met Ala Val          #                95                                                            - Asp Glu Cys Gly Cys Arg                                                                  100                                                                - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:13:                                            -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                           #acids    (A) LENGTH: 102 amino                                                          (B) TYPE: amino acid                                                           (C) STRANDEDNESS: single                                                       (D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                 -     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: protein                                              -     (vi) ORIGINAL SOURCE:                                                              (A) ORGANISM: MURIDAE                                                -     (ix) FEATURE:                                                                      (A) NAME/KEY: Protein                                                          (B) LOCATION: 1..102                                                 #/label= VGR-1-FXER INFORMATION:                                               #ID NO:13:(xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ                                       - Cys Lys Lys His Glu Leu Tyr Val Ser Phe Gl - #n Asp Val Gly Trp Gln          #                15                                                            - Asp Trp Ile Ile Ala Pro Lys Gly Tyr Ala Al - #a Asn Tyr Cys Asp Gly          #            30                                                                - Glu Cys Ser Phe Pro Leu Asn Ala His Met As - #n Ala Thr Asn His Ala          #        45                                                                    - Ile Val Gln Thr Leu Val His Val Met Asn Pr - #o Glu Tyr Val Pro Lys          #    60                                                                        - Pro Cys Cys Ala Pro Thr Lys Val Asn Ala Il - #e Ser Val Leu Tyr Phe          #80                                                                            - Asp Asp Asn Ser Asn Val Ile Leu Lys Lys Ty - #r Arg Asn Met Val Val          #                95                                                            - Arg Ala Cys Gly Cys His                                                                  100                                                                - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:14:                                            -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                           #acids    (A) LENGTH: 106 amino                                                          (B) TYPE: amino acid                                                           (C) STRANDEDNESS: single                                                       (D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                 -     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: protein                                              -    (iii) HYPOTHETICAL: NO                                                    -     (iv) ANTI-SENSE: NO                                                      -     (vi) ORIGINAL SOURCE:                                                              (A) ORGANISM: Homo sapi - #ens                                                 (F) TISSUE TYPE: brain                                               -     (ix) FEATURE:                                                                      (A) NAME/KEY: Protein                                                          (B) LOCATION: 1..106                                                 #/note= "GDF-1 (fx)"INFORMATION:                                               #ID NO:14:(xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ                                       - Cys Arg Ala Arg Arg Leu Tyr Val Ser Phe Ar - #g Glu Val Gly Trp His          #                15                                                            - Arg Trp Val Ile Ala Pro Arg Gly Phe Leu Al - #a Asn Tyr Cys Gln Gly          #            30                                                                - Gln Cys Ala Leu Pro Val Ala Leu Ser Gly Se - #r Gly Gly Pro Pro Ala          #        45                                                                    - Leu Asn His Ala Val Leu Arg Ala Leu Met Hi - #s Ala Ala Ala Pro Gly          #    60                                                                        - Ala Ala Asp Leu Pro Cys Cys Val Pro Ala Ar - #g Leu Ser Pro Ile Ser          #80                                                                            - Val Leu Phe Phe Asp Asn Ser Asp Asn Val Va - #l Leu Arg Gln Tyr Glu          #                95                                                            - Asp Met Val Val Asp Glu Cys Gly Cys Arg                                      #           105                                                                - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:15:                                            -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                           #acids    (A) LENGTH: 5 amino                                                            (B) TYPE: amino acid                                                           (C) STRANDEDNESS: single                                                       (D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                 -     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: peptide                                              #ID NO:15:(xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ                                       - Cys Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa                                                          1               5                                                              - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:16:                                            -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                           #pairs    (A) LENGTH: 1822 base                                                          (B) TYPE: nucleic acid                                                         (C) STRANDEDNESS: single                                                       (D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                 -     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: cDNA                                                 -    (iii) HYPOTHETICAL: NO                                                    -     (iv) ANTI-SENSE: NO                                                      -     (vi) ORIGINAL SOURCE:                                                              (A) ORGANISM: HOMO SAPI - #ENS                                                 (F) TISSUE TYPE: HIPPOC - #AMPUS                                     -     (ix) FEATURE:                                                                      (A) NAME/KEY: CDS                                                              (B) LOCATION: 49..1341                                                         (C) IDENTIFICATION METHOD: - # experimental                          #/function= "OSTEOGENIC PROTEIN"                                                              /product=- # "OP1"                                                             /evidence=- # EXPERIMENTAL                                                     /standard.sub.-- - #name= "OP1"                                 #ID NO:16:(xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ                                       #CAC GTG      57AGCCCGG AGCCCGGGTA GCGCGTAGAG CCGGCGCG ATG                     #                 Met - # His Val                                              #1                                                                             - CGC TCA CTG CGA GCT GCG GCG CCG CAC AGC TT - #C GTG GCG CTC TGG GCA           105                                                                           Arg Ser Leu Arg Ala Ala Ala Pro His Ser Ph - #e Val Ala Leu Trp Ala            #      15                                                                      - CCC CTG TTC CTG CTG CGC TCC GCC CTG GCC GA - #C TTC AGC CTG GAC AAC           153                                                                           Pro Leu Phe Leu Leu Arg Ser Ala Leu Ala As - #p Phe Ser Leu Asp Asn            # 35                                                                           - GAG GTG CAC TCG AGC TTC ATC CAC CGG CGC CT - #C CGC AGC CAG GAG CGG           201                                                                           Glu Val His Ser Ser Phe Ile His Arg Arg Le - #u Arg Ser Gln Glu Arg            #                50                                                            - CGG GAG ATG CAG CGC GAG ATC CTC TCC ATT TT - #G GGC TTG CCC CAC CGC           249                                                                           Arg Glu Met Gln Arg Glu Ile Leu Ser Ile Le - #u Gly Leu Pro His Arg            #            65                                                                - CCG CGC CCG CAC CTC CAG GGC AAG CAC AAC TC - #G GCA CCC ATG TTC ATG           297                                                                           Pro Arg Pro His Leu Gln Gly Lys His Asn Se - #r Ala Pro Met Phe Met            #        80                                                                    - CTG GAC CTG TAC AAC GCC ATG GCG GTG GAG GA - #G GGC GGC GGG CCC GGC           345                                                                           Leu Asp Leu Tyr Asn Ala Met Ala Val Glu Gl - #u Gly Gly Gly Pro Gly            #    95                                                                        - GGC CAG GGC TTC TCC TAC CCC TAC AAG GCC GT - #C TTC AGT ACC CAG GGC           393                                                                           Gly Gln Gly Phe Ser Tyr Pro Tyr Lys Ala Va - #l Phe Ser Thr Gln Gly            100                 1 - #05                 1 - #10                 1 -        #15                                                                            - CCC CCT CTG GCC AGC CTG CAA GAT AGC CAT TT - #C CTC ACC GAC GCC GAC           441                                                                           Pro Pro Leu Ala Ser Leu Gln Asp Ser His Ph - #e Leu Thr Asp Ala Asp            #               130                                                            - ATG GTC ATG AGC TTC GTC AAC CTC GTG GAA CA - #T GAC AAG GAA TTC TTC           489                                                                           Met Val Met Ser Phe Val Asn Leu Val Glu Hi - #s Asp Lys Glu Phe Phe            #           145                                                                - CAC CCA CGC TAC CAC CAT CGA GAG TTC CGG TT - #T GAT CTT TCC AAG ATC           537                                                                           His Pro Arg Tyr His His Arg Glu Phe Arg Ph - #e Asp Leu Ser Lys Ile            #       160                                                                    - CCA GAA GGG GAA GCT GTC ACG GCA GCC GAA TT - #C CGG ATC TAC AAG GAC           585                                                                           Pro Glu Gly Glu Ala Val Thr Ala Ala Glu Ph - #e Arg Ile Tyr Lys Asp            #   175                                                                        - TAC ATC CGG GAA CGC TTC GAC AAT GAG ACG TT - #C CGG ATC AGC GTT TAT           633                                                                           Tyr Ile Arg Glu Arg Phe Asp Asn Glu Thr Ph - #e Arg Ile Ser Val Tyr            180                 1 - #85                 1 - #90                 1 -        #95                                                                            - CAG GTG CTC CAG GAG CAC TTG GGC AGG GAA TC - #G GAT CTC TTC CTG CTC           681                                                                           Gln Val Leu Gln Glu His Leu Gly Arg Glu Se - #r Asp Leu Phe Leu Leu            #               210                                                            - GAC AGC CGT ACC CTC TGG GCC TCG GAG GAG GG - #C TGG CTG GTG TTT GAC           729                                                                           Asp Ser Arg Thr Leu Trp Ala Ser Glu Glu Gl - #y Trp Leu Val Phe Asp            #           225                                                                - ATC ACA GCC ACC AGC AAC CAC TGG GTG GTC AA - #T CCG CGG CAC AAC CTG           777                                                                           Ile Thr Ala Thr Ser Asn His Trp Val Val As - #n Pro Arg His Asn Leu            #       240                                                                    - GGC CTG CAG CTC TCG GTG GAG ACG CTG GAT GG - #G CAG AGC ATC AAC CCC           825                                                                           Gly Leu Gln Leu Ser Val Glu Thr Leu Asp Gl - #y Gln Ser Ile Asn Pro            #   255                                                                        - AAG TTG GCG GGC CTG ATT GGG CGG CAC GGG CC - #C CAG AAC AAG CAG CCC           873                                                                           Lys Leu Ala Gly Leu Ile Gly Arg His Gly Pr - #o Gln Asn Lys Gln Pro            260                 2 - #65                 2 - #70                 2 -        #75                                                                            - TTC ATG GTG GCT TTC TTC AAG GCC ACG GAG GT - #C CAC TTC CGC AGC ATC           921                                                                           Phe Met Val Ala Phe Phe Lys Ala Thr Glu Va - #l His Phe Arg Ser Ile            #               290                                                            - CGG TCC ACG GGG AGC AAA CAG CGC AGC CAG AA - #C CGC TCC AAG ACG CCC           969                                                                           Arg Ser Thr Gly Ser Lys Gln Arg Ser Gln As - #n Arg Ser Lys Thr Pro            #           305                                                                - AAG AAC CAG GAA GCC CTG CGG ATG GCC AAC GT - #G GCA GAG AAC AGC AGC          1017                                                                           Lys Asn Gln Glu Ala Leu Arg Met Ala Asn Va - #l Ala Glu Asn Ser Ser            #       320                                                                    - AGC GAC CAG AGG CAG GCC TGT AAG AAG CAC GA - #G CTG TAT GTC AGC TTC          1065                                                                           Ser Asp Gln Arg Gln Ala Cys Lys Lys His Gl - #u Leu Tyr Val Ser Phe            #   335                                                                        - CGA GAC CTG GGC TGG CAG GAC TGG ATC ATC GC - #G CCT GAA GGC TAC GCC          1113                                                                           Arg Asp Leu Gly Trp Gln Asp Trp Ile Ile Al - #a Pro Glu Gly Tyr Ala            340                 3 - #45                 3 - #50                 3 -        #55                                                                            - GCC TAC TAC TGT GAG GGG GAG TGT GCC TTC CC - #T CTG AAC TCC TAC ATG          1161                                                                           Ala Tyr Tyr Cys Glu Gly Glu Cys Ala Phe Pr - #o Leu Asn Ser Tyr Met            #               370                                                            - AAC GCC ACC AAC CAC GCC ATC GTG CAG ACG CT - #G GTC CAC TTC ATC AAC          1209                                                                           Asn Ala Thr Asn His Ala Ile Val Gln Thr Le - #u Val His Phe Ile Asn            #           385                                                                - CCG GAA ACG GTG CCC AAG CCC TGC TGT GCG CC - #C ACG CAG CTC AAT GCC          1257                                                                           Pro Glu Thr Val Pro Lys Pro Cys Cys Ala Pr - #o Thr Gln Leu Asn Ala            #       400                                                                    - ATC TCC GTC CTC TAC TTC GAT GAC AGC TCC AA - #C GTC ATC CTG AAG AAA          1305                                                                           Ile Ser Val Leu Tyr Phe Asp Asp Ser Ser As - #n Val Ile Leu Lys Lys            #   415                                                                        - TAC AGA AAC ATG GTG GTC CGG GCC TGT GGC TG - #C CAC TAGCTCCTCC               1351                                                                           Tyr Arg Asn Met Val Val Arg Ala Cys Gly Cy - #s His                            420                 4 - #25                 4 - #30                            - GAGAATTCAG ACCCTTTGGG GCCAAGTTTT TCTGGATCCT CCATTGCTCG CC - #TTGGCCAG        1411                                                                           - GAACCAGCAG ACCAACTGCC TTTTGTGAGA CCTTCCCCTC CCTATCCCCA AC - #TTTAAAGG        1471                                                                           - TGTGAGAGTA TTAGGAAACA TGAGCAGCAT ATGGCTTTTG ATCAGTTTTT CA - #GTGGCAGC        1531                                                                           - ATCCAATGAA CAAGATCCTA CAAGCTGTGC AGGCAAAACC TAGCAGGAAA AA - #AAAACAAC        1591                                                                           - GCATAAAGAA AAATGGCCGG GCCAGGTCAT TGGCTGGGAA GTCTCAGCCA TG - #CACGGACT        1651                                                                           - CGTTTCCAGA GGTAATTATG AGCGCCTACC AGCCAGGCCA CCCAGCCGTG GG - #AGGAAGGG        1711                                                                           - GGCGTGGCAA GGGGTGGGCA CATTGGTGTC TGTGCGAAAG GAAAATTGAC CC - #GGAAGTTC        1771                                                                           #           1822CACAATA AAACGAATGA ATGAAAAAAA AAAAAAAAAA A                     - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:17:                                            -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                           #acids    (A) LENGTH: 431 amino                                                          (B) TYPE: amino acid                                                           (D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                 -     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: protein                                              -           (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: - # SEQ ID NO:17:                       - Met His Val Arg Ser Leu Arg Ala Ala Ala Pr - #o His Ser Phe Val Ala          #                 15                                                           - Leu Trp Ala Pro Leu Phe Leu Leu Arg Ser Al - #a Leu Ala Asp Phe Ser          #            30                                                                - Leu Asp Asn Glu Val His Ser Ser Phe Ile Hi - #s Arg Arg Leu Arg Ser          #        45                                                                    - Gln Glu Arg Arg Glu Met Gln Arg Glu Ile Le - #u Ser Ile Leu Gly Leu          #     60                                                                       - Pro His Arg Pro Arg Pro His Leu Gln Gly Ly - #s His Asn Ser Ala Pro          # 80                                                                           - Met Phe Met Leu Asp Leu Tyr Asn Ala Met Al - #a Val Glu Glu Gly Gly          #                 95                                                           - Gly Pro Gly Gly Gln Gly Phe Ser Tyr Pro Ty - #r Lys Ala Val Phe Ser          #           110                                                                - Thr Gln Gly Pro Pro Leu Ala Ser Leu Gln As - #p Ser His Phe Leu Thr          #       125                                                                    - Asp Ala Asp Met Val Met Ser Phe Val Asn Le - #u Val Glu His Asp Lys          #   140                                                                        - Glu Phe Phe His Pro Arg Tyr His His Arg Gl - #u Phe Arg Phe Asp Leu          145                 1 - #50                 1 - #55                 1 -        #60                                                                            - Ser Lys Ile Pro Glu Gly Glu Ala Val Thr Al - #a Ala Glu Phe Arg Ile          #               175                                                            - Tyr Lys Asp Tyr Ile Arg Glu Arg Phe Asp As - #n Glu Thr Phe Arg Ile          #           190                                                                - Ser Val Tyr Gln Val Leu Gln Glu His Leu Gl - #y Arg Glu Ser Asp Leu          #       205                                                                    - Phe Leu Leu Asp Ser Arg Thr Leu Trp Ala Se - #r Glu Glu Gly Trp Leu          #   220                                                                        - Val Phe Asp Ile Thr Ala Thr Ser Asn His Tr - #p Val Val Asn Pro Arg          225                 2 - #30                 2 - #35                 2 -        #40                                                                            - His Asn Leu Gly Leu Gln Leu Ser Val Glu Th - #r Leu Asp Gly Gln Ser          #               255                                                            - Ile Asn Pro Lys Leu Ala Gly Leu Ile Gly Ar - #g His Gly Pro Gln Asn          #           270                                                                - Lys Gln Pro Phe Met Val Ala Phe Phe Lys Al - #a Thr Glu Val His Phe          #       285                                                                    - Arg Ser Ile Arg Ser Thr Gly Ser Lys Gln Ar - #g Ser Gln Asn Arg Ser          #   300                                                                        - Lys Thr Pro Lys Asn Gln Glu Ala Leu Arg Me - #t Ala Asn Val Ala Glu          305                 3 - #10                 3 - #15                 3 -        #20                                                                            - Asn Ser Ser Ser Asp Gln Arg Gln Ala Cys Ly - #s Lys His Glu Leu Tyr          #               335                                                            - Val Ser Phe Arg Asp Leu Gly Trp Gln Asp Tr - #p Ile Ile Ala Pro Glu          #           350                                                                - Gly Tyr Ala Ala Tyr Tyr Cys Glu Gly Glu Cy - #s Ala Phe Pro Leu Asn          #       365                                                                    - Ser Tyr Met Asn Ala Thr Asn His Ala Ile Va - #l Gln Thr Leu Val His          #   380                                                                        - Phe Ile Asn Pro Glu Thr Val Pro Lys Pro Cy - #s Cys Ala Pro Thr Gln          385                 3 - #90                 3 - #95                 4 -        #00                                                                            - Leu Asn Ala Ile Ser Val Leu Tyr Phe Asp As - #p Ser Ser Asn Val Ile          #               415                                                            - Leu Lys Lys Tyr Arg Asn Met Val Val Arg Al - #a Cys Gly Cys His              #           430                                                                - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:18:                                            -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                           #pairs    (A) LENGTH: 1873 base                                                          (B) TYPE: nucleic acid                                                         (C) STRANDEDNESS: single                                                       (D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                 -     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: cDNA                                                 -    (iii) HYPOTHETICAL: NO                                                    -     (iv) ANTI-SENSE: NO                                                      -     (vi) ORIGINAL SOURCE:                                                              (A) ORGANISM: MURIDAE                                                          (F) TISSUE TYPE: EMBRYO                                              -     (ix) FEATURE:                                                                      (A) NAME/KEY: CDS                                                              (B) LOCATION: 104..1393                                              #/function= "OSTEOGENIC PROTEIN"                                                              /product=- # "MOP1"                                             #"MOP1 (CDNA)" /note=                                                          #ID NO:18:(xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ                                       - CTGCAGCAAG TGACCTCGGG TCGTGGACCG CTGCCCTGCC CCCTCCGCTG CC - #ACCTGGGG          60                                                                           - CGGCGCGGGC CCGGTGCCCC GGATCGCGCG TAGAGCCGGC GCG ATG CA - #C GTG CGC           115                                                                           Met His Val Arg                                                                  1                                                                            - TCG CTG CGC GCT GCG GCG CCA CAC AGC TTC GT - #G GCG CTC TGG GCG CCT           163                                                                           Ser Leu Arg Ala Ala Ala Pro His Ser Phe Va - #l Ala Leu Trp Ala Pro            #  20                                                                          - CTG TTC TTG CTG CGC TCC GCC CTG GCC GAT TT - #C AGC CTG GAC AAC GAG           211                                                                           Leu Phe Leu Leu Arg Ser Ala Leu Ala Asp Ph - #e Ser Leu Asp Asn Glu            #                35                                                            - GTG CAC TCC AGC TTC ATC CAC CGG CGC CTC CG - #C AGC CAG GAG CGG CGG           259                                                                           Val His Ser Ser Phe Ile His Arg Arg Leu Ar - #g Ser Gln Glu Arg Arg            #            50                                                                - GAG ATG CAG CGG GAG ATC CTG TCC ATC TTA GG - #G TTG CCC CAT CGC CCG           307                                                                           Glu Met Gln Arg Glu Ile Leu Ser Ile Leu Gl - #y Leu Pro His Arg Pro            #        65                                                                    - CGC CCG CAC CTC CAG GGA AAG CAT AAT TCG GC - #G CCC ATG TTC ATG TTG           355                                                                           Arg Pro His Leu Gln Gly Lys His Asn Ser Al - #a Pro Met Phe Met Leu            #     80                                                                       - GAC CTG TAC AAC GCC ATG GCG GTG GAG GAG AG - #C GGG CCG GAC GGA CAG           403                                                                           Asp Leu Tyr Asn Ala Met Ala Val Glu Glu Se - #r Gly Pro Asp Gly Gln            #100                                                                           - GGC TTC TCC TAC CCC TAC AAG GCC GTC TTC AG - #T ACC CAG GGC CCC CCT           451                                                                           Gly Phe Ser Tyr Pro Tyr Lys Ala Val Phe Se - #r Thr Gln Gly Pro Pro            #               115                                                            - TTA GCC AGC CTG CAG GAC AGC CAT TTC CTC AC - #T GAC GCC GAC ATG GTC           499                                                                           Leu Ala Ser Leu Gln Asp Ser His Phe Leu Th - #r Asp Ala Asp Met Val            #           130                                                                - ATG AGC TTC GTC AAC CTA GTG GAA CAT GAC AA - #A GAA TTC TTC CAC CCT           547                                                                           Met Ser Phe Val Asn Leu Val Glu His Asp Ly - #s Glu Phe Phe His Pro            #       145                                                                    - CGA TAC CAC CAT CGG GAG TTC CGG TTT GAT CT - #T TCC AAG ATC CCC GAG           595                                                                           Arg Tyr His His Arg Glu Phe Arg Phe Asp Le - #u Ser Lys Ile Pro Glu            #   160                                                                        - GGC GAA CGG GTG ACC GCA GCC GAA TTC AGG AT - #C TAT AAG GAC TAC ATC           643                                                                           Gly Glu Arg Val Thr Ala Ala Glu Phe Arg Il - #e Tyr Lys Asp Tyr Ile            165                 1 - #70                 1 - #75                 1 -        #80                                                                            - CGG GAG CGA TTT GAC AAC GAG ACC TTC CAG AT - #C ACA GTC TAT CAG GTG           691                                                                           Arg Glu Arg Phe Asp Asn Glu Thr Phe Gln Il - #e Thr Val Tyr Gln Val            #               195                                                            - CTC CAG GAG CAC TCA GGC AGG GAG TCG GAC CT - #C TTC TTG CTG GAC AGC           739                                                                           Leu Gln Glu His Ser Gly Arg Glu Ser Asp Le - #u Phe Leu Leu Asp Ser            #           210                                                                - CGC ACC ATC TGG GCT TCT GAG GAG GGC TGG TT - #G GTG TTT GAT ATC ACA           787                                                                           Arg Thr Ile Trp Ala Ser Glu Glu Gly Trp Le - #u Val Phe Asp Ile Thr            #       225                                                                    - GCC ACC AGC AAC CAC TGG GTG GTC AAC CCT CG - #G CAC AAC CTG GGC TTA           835                                                                           Ala Thr Ser Asn His Trp Val Val Asn Pro Ar - #g His Asn Leu Gly Leu            #   240                                                                        - CAG CTC TCT GTG GAG ACC CTG GAT GGG CAG AG - #C ATC AAC CCC AAG TTG           883                                                                           Gln Leu Ser Val Glu Thr Leu Asp Gly Gln Se - #r Ile Asn Pro Lys Leu            245                 2 - #50                 2 - #55                 2 -        #60                                                                            - GCA GGC CTG ATT GGA CGG CAT GGA CCC CAG AA - #C AAG CAA CCC TTC ATG           931                                                                           Ala Gly Leu Ile Gly Arg His Gly Pro Gln As - #n Lys Gln Pro Phe Met            #               275                                                            - GTG GCC TTC TTC AAG GCC ACG GAA GTC CAT CT - #C CGT AGT ATC CGG TCC           979                                                                           Val Ala Phe Phe Lys Ala Thr Glu Val His Le - #u Arg Ser Ile Arg Ser            #           290                                                                - ACG GGG GGC AAG CAG CGC AGC CAG AAT CGC TC - #C AAG ACG CCA AAG AAC          1027                                                                           Thr Gly Gly Lys Gln Arg Ser Gln Asn Arg Se - #r Lys Thr Pro Lys Asn            #       305                                                                    - CAA GAG GCC CTG AGG ATG GCC AGT GTG GCA GA - #A AAC AGC AGC AGT GAC          1075                                                                           Gln Glu Ala Leu Arg Met Ala Ser Val Ala Gl - #u Asn Ser Ser Ser Asp            #   320                                                                        - CAG AGG CAG GCC TGC AAG AAA CAT GAG CTG TA - #C GTC AGC TTC CGA GAC          1123                                                                           Gln Arg Gln Ala Cys Lys Lys His Glu Leu Ty - #r Val Ser Phe Arg Asp            325                 3 - #30                 3 - #35                 3 -        #40                                                                            - CTT GGC TGG CAG GAC TGG ATC ATT GCA CCT GA - #A GGC TAT GCT GCC TAC          1171                                                                           Leu Gly Trp Gln Asp Trp Ile Ile Ala Pro Gl - #u Gly Tyr Ala Ala Tyr            #               355                                                            - TAC TGT GAG GGA GAG TGC GCC TTC CCT CTG AA - #C TCC TAC ATG AAC GCC          1219                                                                           Tyr Cys Glu Gly Glu Cys Ala Phe Pro Leu As - #n Ser Tyr Met Asn Ala            #           370                                                                - ACC AAC CAC GCC ATC GTC CAG ACA CTG GTT CA - #C TTC ATC AAC CCA GAC          1267                                                                           Thr Asn His Ala Ile Val Gln Thr Leu Val Hi - #s Phe Ile Asn Pro Asp            #       385                                                                    - ACA GTA CCC AAG CCC TGC TGT GCG CCC ACC CA - #G CTC AAC GCC ATC TCT          1315                                                                           Thr Val Pro Lys Pro Cys Cys Ala Pro Thr Gl - #n Leu Asn Ala Ile Ser            #   400                                                                        - GTC CTC TAC TTC GAC GAC AGC TCT AAT GTC GA - #C CTG AAG AAG TAC AGA          1363                                                                           Val Leu Tyr Phe Asp Asp Ser Ser Asn Val As - #p Leu Lys Lys Tyr Arg            405                 4 - #10                 4 - #15                 4 -        #20                                                                            - AAC ATG GTG GTC CGG GCC TGT GGC TGC CAC TA - #GCTCTTCC TGAGACCCTG            1413                                                                           Asn Met Val Val Arg Ala Cys Gly Cys His                                        425                 4 - #30                                                    - ACCTTTGCGG GGCCACACCT TTCCAAATCT TCGATGTCTC ACCATCTAAG TC - #TCTCACTG        1473                                                                           - CCCACCTTGG CGAGGAGAAC AGACCAACCT CTCCTGAGCC TTCCCTCACC TC - #CCAACCGG        1533                                                                           - AAGCATGTAA GGGTTCCAGA AACCTGAGCG TGCAGCAGCT GATGAGCGCC CT - #TTCCTTCT        1593                                                                           - GGCACGTGAC GGACAAGATC CTACCAGCTA CCACAGCAAA CGCCTAAGAG CA - #GGAAAAAT        1653                                                                           - GTCTGCCAGG AAAGTGTCCA GTGTCCACAT GGCCCCTGGC GCTCTGAGTC TT - #TGAGGAGT        1713                                                                           - AATCGCAAGC CTCGTTCAGC TGCAGCAGAA GGAAGGGCTT AGCCAGGGTG GG - #CGCTGGCG        1773                                                                           - TCTGTGTTGA AGGGAAACCA AGCAGAAGCC ACTGTAATGA TATGTCACAA TA - #AAACCCAT        1833                                                                           #  1873            AAAA AAAAAAAAAA AAAAGAATTC                                  - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:19:                                            -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                           #acids    (A) LENGTH: 430 amino                                                          (B) TYPE: amino acid                                                           (D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                 -     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: protein                                              -           (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: - # SEQ ID NO:19:                       - Met His Val Arg Ser Leu Arg Ala Ala Ala Pr - #o His Ser Phe Val Ala          #                 15                                                           - Leu Trp Ala Pro Leu Phe Leu Leu Arg Ser Al - #a Leu Ala Asp Phe Ser          #             30                                                               - Leu Asp Asn Glu Val His Ser Ser Phe Ile Hi - #s Arg Arg Leu Arg Ser          #         45                                                                   - Gln Glu Arg Arg Glu Met Gln Arg Glu Ile Le - #u Ser Ile Leu Gly Leu          #     60                                                                       - Pro His Arg Pro Arg Pro His Leu Gln Gly Ly - #s His Asn Ser Ala Pro          # 80                                                                           - Met Phe Met Leu Asp Leu Tyr Asn Ala Met Al - #a Val Glu Glu Ser Gly          #                 95                                                           - Pro Asp Gly Gln Gly Phe Ser Tyr Pro Tyr Ly - #s Ala Val Phe Ser Thr          #           110                                                                - Gln Gly Pro Pro Leu Ala Ser Leu Gln Asp Se - #r His Phe Leu Thr Asp          #       125                                                                    - Ala Asp Met Val Met Ser Phe Val Asn Leu Va - #l Glu His Asp Lys Glu          #   140                                                                        - Phe Phe His Pro Arg Tyr His His Arg Glu Ph - #e Arg Phe Asp Leu Ser          145                 1 - #50                 1 - #55                 1 -        #60                                                                            - Lys Ile Pro Glu Gly Glu Arg Val Thr Ala Al - #a Glu Phe Arg Ile Tyr          #               175                                                            - Lys Asp Tyr Ile Arg Glu Arg Phe Asp Asn Gl - #u Thr Phe Gln Ile Thr          #           190                                                                - Val Tyr Gln Val Leu Gln Glu His Ser Gly Ar - #g Glu Ser Asp Leu Phe          #       205                                                                    - Leu Leu Asp Ser Arg Thr Ile Trp Ala Ser Gl - #u Glu Gly Trp Leu Val          #   220                                                                        - Phe Asp Ile Thr Ala Thr Ser Asn His Trp Va - #l Val Asn Pro Arg His          225                 2 - #30                 2 - #35                 2 -        #40                                                                            - Asn Leu Gly Leu Gln Leu Ser Val Glu Thr Le - #u Asp Gly Gln Ser Ile          #               255                                                            - Asn Pro Lys Leu Ala Gly Leu Ile Gly Arg Hi - #s Gly Pro Gln Asn Lys          #           270                                                                - Gln Pro Phe Met Val Ala Phe Phe Lys Ala Th - #r Glu Val His Leu Arg          #       285                                                                    - Ser Ile Arg Ser Thr Gly Gly Lys Gln Arg Se - #r Gln Asn Arg Ser Lys          #   300                                                                        - Thr Pro Lys Asn Gln Glu Ala Leu Arg Met Al - #a Ser Val Ala Glu Asn          305                 3 - #10                 3 - #15                 3 -        #20                                                                            - Ser Ser Ser Asp Gln Arg Gln Ala Cys Lys Ly - #s His Glu Leu Tyr Val          #               335                                                            - Ser Phe Arg Asp Leu Gly Trp Gln Asp Trp Il - #e Ile Ala Pro Glu Gly          #           350                                                                - Tyr Ala Ala Tyr Tyr Cys Glu Gly Glu Cys Al - #a Phe Pro Leu Asn Ser          #       365                                                                    - Tyr Met Asn Ala Thr Asn His Ala Ile Val Gl - #n Thr Leu Val His Phe          #   380                                                                        - Ile Asn Pro Asp Thr Val Pro Lys Pro Cys Cy - #s Ala Pro Thr Gln Leu          385                 3 - #90                 3 - #95                 4 -        #00                                                                            - Asn Ala Ile Ser Val Leu Tyr Phe Asp Asp Se - #r Ser Asn Val Asp Leu          #               415                                                            - Lys Lys Tyr Arg Asn Met Val Val Arg Ala Cy - #s Gly Cys His                  #           430                                                                - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:20:                                            -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                           #pairs    (A) LENGTH: 1723 base                                                          (B) TYPE: nucleic acid                                                         (C) STRANDEDNESS: single                                                       (D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                 -     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: cDNA                                                 -     (vi) ORIGINAL SOURCE:                                                              (A) ORGANISM: Homo sapi - #ens                                                 (F) TISSUE TYPE: HIPPOC - #AMPUS                                     -     (ix) FEATURE:                                                                      (A) NAME/KEY: CDS                                                              (B) LOCATION: 490..1696                                              #/function= "OSTEOGENIC PROTEIN"                                                              /product=- # "hOP2-PP"                                          #"hOP2 (cDNA)" /note=                                                          #ID NO:20:(xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ                                       - GGCGCCGGCA GAGCAGGAGT GGCTGGAGGA GCTGTGGTTG GAGCAGGAGG TG - #GCACGGCA          60                                                                           - GGGCTGGAGG GCTCCCTATG AGTGGCGGAG ACGGCCCAGG AGGCGCTGGA GC - #AACAGCTC         120                                                                           - CCACACCGCA CCAAGCGGTG GCTGCAGGAG CTCGCCCATC GCCCCTGCGC TG - #CTCGGACC         180                                                                           - GCGGCCACAG CCGGACTGGC GGGTACGGCG GCGACAGAGG CATTGGCCGA GA - #GTCCCAGT         240                                                                           - CCGCAGAGTA GCCCCGGCCT CGAGGCGGTG GCGTCCCGGT CCTCTCCGTC CA - #GGAGCCAG         300                                                                           - GACAGGTGTC GCGCGGCGGG GCTCCAGGGA CCGCGCCTGA GGCCGGCTGC CC - #GCCCGTCC         360                                                                           - CGCCCCGCCC CGCCGCCCGC CGCCCGCCGA GCCCAGCCTC CTTGCCGTCG GG - #GCGTCCCC         420                                                                           - AGGCCCTGGG TCGGCCGCGG AGCCGATGCG CGCCCGCTGA GCGCCCCAGC TG - #AGCGCCCC         480                                                                           - CGGCCTGCC ATG ACC GCG CTC CCC GGC CCG CTC TGG - # CTC CTG GGC CTG             528                                                                           #Gly Pro Leu Trp Leu Leu Gly Leu                                               #        10                                                                    - GCG CTA TGC GCG CTG GGC GGG GGC GGC CCC GG - #C CTG CGA CCC CCG CCC           576                                                                           Ala Leu Cys Ala Leu Gly Gly Gly Gly Pro Gl - #y Leu Arg Pro Pro Pro            #     25                                                                       - GGC TGT CCC CAG CGA CGT CTG GGC GCG CGC GA - #G CGC CGG GAC GTG CAG           624                                                                           Gly Cys Pro Gln Arg Arg Leu Gly Ala Arg Gl - #u Arg Arg Asp Val Gln            # 45                                                                           - CGC GAG ATC CTG GCG GTG CTC GGG CTG CCT GG - #G CGG CCC CGG CCC CGC           672                                                                           Arg Glu Ile Leu Ala Val Leu Gly Leu Pro Gl - #y Arg Pro Arg Pro Arg            # 60                                                                           - GCG CCA CCC GCC GCC TCC CGG CTG CCC GCG TC - #C GCG CCG CTC TTC ATG           720                                                                           Ala Pro Pro Ala Ala Ser Arg Leu Pro Ala Se - #r Ala Pro Leu Phe Met            #     75                                                                       - CTG GAC CTG TAC CAC GCC ATG GCC GGC GAC GA - #C GAC GAG GAC GGC GCG           768                                                                           Leu Asp Leu Tyr His Ala Met Ala Gly Asp As - #p Asp Glu Asp Gly Ala            # 90                                                                           - CCC GCG GAG CGG CGC CTG GGC CGC GCC GAC CT - #G GTC ATG AGC TTC GTT           816                                                                           Pro Ala Glu Arg Arg Leu Gly Arg Ala Asp Le - #u Val Met Ser Phe Val            #    105                                                                       - AAC ATG GTG GAG CGA GAC CGT GCC CTG GGC CA - #C CAG GAG CCC CAT TGG           864                                                                           Asn Met Val Glu Arg Asp Arg Ala Leu Gly Hi - #s Gln Glu Pro His Trp            110                 1 - #15                 1 - #20                 1 -        #25                                                                            - AAG GAG TTC CGC TTT GAC CTG ACC CAG ATC CC - #G GCT GGG GAG GCG GTC           912                                                                           Lys Glu Phe Arg Phe Asp Leu Thr Gln Ile Pr - #o Ala Gly Glu Ala Val            130                 1 - #35                 1 - #40                            - ACA GCT GCG GAG TTC CGG ATT TAC AAG GTG CC - #C AGC ATC CAC CTG CTC           960                                                                           Thr Ala Ala Glu Phe Arg Ile Tyr Lys Val Pr - #o Ser Ile His Leu Leu            #   155                                                                        - AAC AGG ACC CTC CAC GTC AGC ATG TTC CAG GT - #G GTC CAG GAG CAG TCC          1008                                                                           Asn Arg Thr Leu His Val Ser Met Phe Gln Va - #l Val Gln Glu Gln Ser            160                 1 - #65                 1 - #70                            - AAC AGG GAG TCT GAC TTG TTC TTT TTG GAT CT - #T CAG ACG CTC CGA GCT          1056                                                                           Asn Arg Glu Ser Asp Leu Phe Phe Leu Asp Le - #u Gln Thr Leu Arg Ala            #   185                                                                        - GGA GAC GAG GGC TGG CTG GTG CTG GAT GTC AC - #A GCA GCC AGT GAC TGC          1104                                                                           Gly Asp Glu Gly Trp Leu Val Leu Asp Val Th - #r Ala Ala Ser Asp Cys            190                 1 - #95                 2 - #00                 2 -        #05                                                                            - TGG TTG CTG AAG CGT CAC AAG GAC CTG GGA CT - #C CGC CTC TAT GTG GAG          1152                                                                           Trp Leu Leu Lys Arg His Lys Asp Leu Gly Le - #u Arg Leu Tyr Val Glu            210                 2 - #15                 2 - #20                            - ACT GAG GAC GGG CAC AGC GTG GAT CCT GGC CT - #G GCC GGC CTG CTG GGT          1200                                                                           Thr Glu Asp Gly His Ser Val Asp Pro Gly Le - #u Ala Gly Leu Leu Gly            #   235                                                                        - CAA CGG GCC CCA CGC TCC CAA CAG CCT TTC GT - #G GTC ACT TTC TTC AGG          1248                                                                           Gln Arg Ala Pro Arg Ser Gln Gln Pro Phe Va - #l Val Thr Phe Phe Arg            240                 2 - #45                 2 - #50                            - GCC AGT CCG AGT CCC ATC CGC ACC CCT CGG GC - #A GTG AGG CCA CTG AGG          1296                                                                           Ala Ser Pro Ser Pro Ile Arg Thr Pro Arg Al - #a Val Arg Pro Leu Arg            #   265                                                                        - AGG AGG CAG CCG AAG AAA AGC AAC GAG CTG CC - #G CAG GCC AAC CGA CTC          1344                                                                           Arg Arg Gln Pro Lys Lys Ser Asn Glu Leu Pr - #o Gln Ala Asn Arg Leu            270                 2 - #75                 2 - #80                 2 -        #85                                                                            - CCA GGG ATC TTT GAT GAC GTC CAC GGC TCC CA - #C GGC CGG CAG GTC TGC          1392                                                                           Pro Gly Ile Phe Asp Asp Val His Gly Ser Hi - #s Gly Arg Gln Val Cys            290                 2 - #95                 3 - #00                            - CGT CGG CAC GAG CTC TAC GTC AGC TTC CAG GA - #C CTC GGC TGG CTG GAC          1440                                                                           Arg Arg His Glu Leu Tyr Val Ser Phe Gln As - #p Leu Gly Trp Leu Asp            #   315                                                                        - TGG GTC ATC GCT CCC CAA GGC TAC TCG GCC TA - #T TAC TGT GAG GGG GAG          1488                                                                           Trp Val Ile Ala Pro Gln Gly Tyr Ser Ala Ty - #r Tyr Cys Glu Gly Glu            320                 3 - #25                 3 - #30                            - TGC TCC TTC CCA CTG GAC TCC TGC ATG AAT GC - #C ACC AAC CAC GCC ATC          1536                                                                           Cys Ser Phe Pro Leu Asp Ser Cys Met Asn Al - #a Thr Asn His Ala Ile            #   345                                                                        - CTG CAG TCC CTG GTG CAC CTG ATG AAG CCA AA - #C GCA GTC CCC AAG GCG          1584                                                                           Leu Gln Ser Leu Val His Leu Met Lys Pro As - #n Ala Val Pro Lys Ala            350                 3 - #55                 3 - #60                 3 -        #65                                                                            - TGC TGT GCA CCC ACC AAG CTG AGC GCC ACC TC - #T GTG CTC TAC TAT GAC          1632                                                                           Cys Cys Ala Pro Thr Lys Leu Ser Ala Thr Se - #r Val Leu Tyr Tyr Asp            370                 3 - #75                 3 - #80                            - AGC AGC AAC AAC GTC ATC CTG CGC AAA GCC CG - #C AAC ATG GTG GTC AAG          1680                                                                           Ser Ser Asn Asn Val Ile Leu Arg Lys Ala Ar - #g Asn Met Val Val Lys            #   395                                                                        - GCC TGC GGC TGC CAC T GAGTCAGCCC GCCCAGCCCT ACTG - #CAG                      #1723                                                                          Ala Cys Gly Cys His                                                            400                                                                            - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:21:                                            -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                           #acids    (A) LENGTH: 402 amino                                                          (B) TYPE: amino acid                                                           (D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                 -     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: protein                                              -           (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: - # SEQ ID NO:21:                       - Met Thr Ala Leu Pro Gly Pro Leu Trp Leu Le - #u Gly Leu Ala Leu Cys          #                 15                                                           - Ala Leu Gly Gly Gly Gly Pro Gly Leu Arg Pr - #o Pro Pro Gly Cys Pro          #     30                                                                       - Gln Arg Arg Leu Gly Ala Arg Glu Arg Arg As - #p Val Gln Arg Glu Ile          # 45                                                                           - Leu Ala Val Leu Gly Leu Pro Gly Arg Pro Ar - #g Pro Arg Ala Pro Pro          #     60                                                                       - Ala Ala Ser Arg Leu Pro Ala Ser Ala Pro Le - #u Phe Met Leu Asp Leu          # 80                                                                           - Tyr His Ala Met Ala Gly Asp Asp Asp Glu As - #p Gly Ala Pro Ala Glu          # 95                                                                           - Arg Arg Leu Gly Arg Ala Asp Leu Val Met Se - #r Phe Val Asn Met Val          #   110                                                                        - Glu Arg Asp Arg Ala Leu Gly His Gln Glu Pr - #o His Trp Lys Glu Phe          115                 1 - #20                 1 - #25                            - Arg Phe Asp Leu Thr Gln Ile Pro Ala Gly Gl - #u Ala Val Thr Ala Ala          #   140                                                                        - Glu Phe Arg Ile Tyr Lys Val Pro Ser Ile Hi - #s Leu Leu Asn Arg Thr          145                 1 - #50                 1 - #55                 1 -        #60                                                                            - Leu His Val Ser Met Phe Gln Val Val Gln Gl - #u Gln Ser Asn Arg Glu          165                 1 - #70                 1 - #75                            - Ser Asp Leu Phe Phe Leu Asp Leu Gln Thr Le - #u Arg Ala Gly Asp Glu          #   190                                                                        - Gly Trp Leu Val Leu Asp Val Thr Ala Ala Se - #r Asp Cys Trp Leu Leu          195                 2 - #00                 2 - #05                            - Lys Arg His Lys Asp Leu Gly Leu Arg Leu Ty - #r Val Glu Thr Glu Asp          #   220                                                                        - Gly His Ser Val Asp Pro Gly Leu Ala Gly Le - #u Leu Gly Gln Arg Ala          225                 2 - #30                 2 - #35                 2 -        #40                                                                            - Pro Arg Ser Gln Gln Pro Phe Val Val Thr Ph - #e Phe Arg Ala Ser Pro          245                 2 - #50                 2 - #55                            - Ser Pro Ile Arg Thr Pro Arg Ala Val Arg Pr - #o Leu Arg Arg Arg Gln          #   270                                                                        - Pro Lys Lys Ser Asn Glu Leu Pro Gln Ala As - #n Arg Leu Pro Gly Ile          275                 2 - #80                 2 - #85                            - Phe Asp Asp Val His Gly Ser His Gly Arg Gl - #n Val Cys Arg Arg His          #   300                                                                        - Glu Leu Tyr Val Ser Phe Gln Asp Leu Gly Tr - #p Leu Asp Trp Val Ile          305                 3 - #10                 3 - #15                 3 -        #20                                                                            - Ala Pro Gln Gly Tyr Ser Ala Tyr Tyr Cys Gl - #u Gly Glu Cys Ser Phe          325                 3 - #30                 3 - #35                            - Pro Leu Asp Ser Cys Met Asn Ala Thr Asn Hi - #s Ala Ile Leu Gln Ser          #   350                                                                        - Leu Val His Leu Met Lys Pro Asn Ala Val Pr - #o Lys Ala Cys Cys Ala          355                 3 - #60                 3 - #65                            - Pro Thr Lys Leu Ser Ala Thr Ser Val Leu Ty - #r Tyr Asp Ser Ser Asn          #   380                                                                        - Asn Val Ile Leu Arg Lys Ala Arg Asn Met Va - #l Val Lys Ala Cys Gly          385                 3 - #90                 3 - #95                 4 -        #00                                                                            - Cys His                                                                      - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:22:                                            -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                           #pairs    (A) LENGTH: 1926 base                                                          (B) TYPE: nucleic acid                                                         (C) STRANDEDNESS: single                                                       (D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                 -     (vi) ORIGINAL SOURCE:                                                              (A) ORGANISM: MURIDAE                                                          (F) TISSUE TYPE: EMBRYO                                              -     (ix) FEATURE:                                                                      (A) NAME/KEY: CDS                                                              (B) LOCATION: 93..1289                                               #/function= "OSTEOGENIC PROTEIN"                                                              /product=- # "mOP2-PP"                                          #"mOP2 cDNA"   /note=                                                          #ID NO:22:(xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ                                       - GCCAGGCACA GGTGCGCCGT CTGGTCCTCC CCGTCTGGCG TCAGCCGAGC CC - #GACCAGCT          60                                                                           - ACCAGTGGAT GCGCGCCGGC TGAAAGTCCG AG ATG GCT ATG CGT - # CCC GGG CCA           113                                                                           #Met Ala Met Arg Pro Gly Pro                                                   # 1               5                                                            - CTC TGG CTA TTG GGC CTT GCT CTG TGC GCG CT - #G GGA GGC GGC CAC GGT           161                                                                           Leu Trp Leu Leu Gly Leu Ala Leu Cys Ala Le - #u Gly Gly Gly His Gly            # 20                                                                           - CCG CGT CCC CCG CAC ACC TGT CCC CAG CGT CG - #C CTG GGA GCG CGC GAG           209                                                                           Pro Arg Pro Pro His Thr Cys Pro Gln Arg Ar - #g Leu Gly Ala Arg Glu            #     35                                                                       - CGC CGC GAC ATG CAG CGT GAA ATC CTG GCG GT - #G CTC GGG CTA CCG GGA           257                                                                           Arg Arg Asp Met Gln Arg Glu Ile Leu Ala Va - #l Leu Gly Leu Pro Gly            # 55                                                                           - CGG CCC CGA CCC CGT GCA CAA CCC GCC GCT GC - #C CGG CAG CCA GCG TCC           305                                                                           Arg Pro Arg Pro Arg Ala Gln Pro Ala Ala Al - #a Arg Gln Pro Ala Ser            # 70                                                                           - GCG CCC CTC TTC ATG TTG GAC CTA TAC CAC GC - #C ATG ACC GAT GAC GAC           353                                                                           Ala Pro Leu Phe Met Leu Asp Leu Tyr His Al - #a Met Thr Asp Asp Asp            #     85                                                                       - GAC GGC GGG CCA CCA CAG GCT CAC TTA GGC CG - #T GCC GAC CTG GTC ATG           401                                                                           Asp Gly Gly Pro Pro Gln Ala His Leu Gly Ar - #g Ala Asp Leu Val Met            #100                                                                           - AGC TTC GTC AAC ATG GTG GAA CGC GAC CGT AC - #C CTG GGC TAC CAG GAG           449                                                                           Ser Phe Val Asn Met Val Glu Arg Asp Arg Th - #r Leu Gly Tyr Gln Glu            #   115                                                                        - CCA CAC TGG AAG GAA TTC CAC TTT GAC CTA AC - #C CAG ATC CCT GCT GGG           497                                                                           Pro His Trp Lys Glu Phe His Phe Asp Leu Th - #r Gln Ile Pro Ala Gly            120                 1 - #25                 1 - #30                 1 -        #35                                                                            - GAG GCT GTC ACA GCT GCT GAG TTC CGG ATC TA - #C AAA GAA CCC AGC ACC           545                                                                           Glu Ala Val Thr Ala Ala Glu Phe Arg Ile Ty - #r Lys Glu Pro Ser Thr            140                 1 - #45                 1 - #50                            - CAC CCG CTC AAC ACA ACC CTC CAC ATC AGC AT - #G TTC GAA GTG GTC CAA           593                                                                           His Pro Leu Asn Thr Thr Leu His Ile Ser Me - #t Phe Glu Val Val Gln            #   165                                                                        - GAG CAC TCC AAC AGG GAG TCT GAC TTG TTC TT - #T TTG GAT CTT CAG ACG           641                                                                           Glu His Ser Asn Arg Glu Ser Asp Leu Phe Ph - #e Leu Asp Leu Gln Thr            170                 1 - #75                 1 - #80                            - CTC CGA TCT GGG GAC GAG GGC TGG CTG GTG CT - #G GAC ATC ACA GCA GCC           689                                                                           Leu Arg Ser Gly Asp Glu Gly Trp Leu Val Le - #u Asp Ile Thr Ala Ala            #   195                                                                        - AGT GAC CGA TGG CTG CTG AAC CAT CAC AAG GA - #C CTG GGA CTC CGC CTC           737                                                                           Ser Asp Arg Trp Leu Leu Asn His His Lys As - #p Leu Gly Leu Arg Leu            200                 2 - #05                 2 - #10                 2 -        #15                                                                            - TAT GTG GAA ACC GCG GAT GGG CAC AGC ATG GA - #T CCT GGC CTG GCT GGT           785                                                                           Tyr Val Glu Thr Ala Asp Gly His Ser Met As - #p Pro Gly Leu Ala Gly            220                 2 - #25                 2 - #30                            - CTG CTT GGA CGA CAA GCA CCA CGC TCC AGA CA - #G CCT TTC ATG GTA ACC           833                                                                           Leu Leu Gly Arg Gln Ala Pro Arg Ser Arg Gl - #n Pro Phe Met Val Thr            #   245                                                                        - TTC TTC AGG GCC AGC CAG AGT CCT GTG CGG GC - #C CCT CGG GCA GCG AGA           881                                                                           Phe Phe Arg Ala Ser Gln Ser Pro Val Arg Al - #a Pro Arg Ala Ala Arg            250                 2 - #55                 2 - #60                            - CCA CTG AAG AGG AGG CAG CCA AAG AAA ACG AA - #C GAG CTT CCG CAC CCC           929                                                                           Pro Leu Lys Arg Arg Gln Pro Lys Lys Thr As - #n Glu Leu Pro His Pro            #   275                                                                        - AAC AAA CTC CCA GGG ATC TTT GAT GAT GGC CA - #C GGT TCC CGC GGC AGA           977                                                                           Asn Lys Leu Pro Gly Ile Phe Asp Asp Gly Hi - #s Gly Ser Arg Gly Arg            280                 2 - #85                 2 - #90                 2 -        #95                                                                            - GAG GTT TGC CGC AGG CAT GAG CTC TAC GTC AG - #C TTC CGT GAC CTT GGC          1025                                                                           Glu Val Cys Arg Arg His Glu Leu Tyr Val Se - #r Phe Arg Asp Leu Gly            300                 3 - #05                 3 - #10                            - TGG CTG GAC TGG GTC ATC GCC CCC CAG GGC TA - #C TCT GCC TAT TAC TGT          1073                                                                           Trp Leu Asp Trp Val Ile Ala Pro Gln Gly Ty - #r Ser Ala Tyr Tyr Cys            #   325                                                                        - GAG GGG GAG TGT GCT TTC CCA CTG GAC TCC TG - #T ATG AAC GCC ACC AAC          1121                                                                           Glu Gly Glu Cys Ala Phe Pro Leu Asp Ser Cy - #s Met Asn Ala Thr Asn            330                 3 - #35                 3 - #40                            - CAT GCC ATC TTG CAG TCT CTG GTG CAC CTG AT - #G AAG CCA GAT GTT GTC          1169                                                                           His Ala Ile Leu Gln Ser Leu Val His Leu Me - #t Lys Pro Asp Val Val            #   355                                                                        - CCC AAG GCA TGC TGT GCA CCC ACC AAA CTG AG - #T GCC ACC TCT GTG CTG          1217                                                                           Pro Lys Ala Cys Cys Ala Pro Thr Lys Leu Se - #r Ala Thr Ser Val Leu            360                 3 - #65                 3 - #70                 3 -        #75                                                                            - TAC TAT GAC AGC AGC AAC AAT GTC ATC CTG CG - #T AAA CAC CGT AAC ATG          1265                                                                           Tyr Tyr Asp Ser Ser Asn Asn Val Ile Leu Ar - #g Lys His Arg Asn Met            380                 3 - #85                 3 - #90                            - GTG GTC AAG GCC TGT GGC TGC CAC TGAGGCCCCG CC - #CAGCATCC TGCTTCTACT         1319                                                                           Val Val Lys Ala Cys Gly Cys His                                                    395                                                                        - ACCTTACCAT CTGGCCGGGC CCCTCTCCAG AGGCAGAAAC CCTTCTATGT TA - #TCATAGCT        1379                                                                           - CAGACAGGGG CAATGGGAGG CCCTTCACTT CCCCTGGCCA CTTCCTGCTA AA - #ATTCTGGT        1439                                                                           - CTTTCCCAGT TCCTCTGTCC TTCATGGGGT TTCGGGGCTA TCACCCCGCC CT - #CTCCATCC        1499                                                                           - TCCTACCCCA AGCATAGACT GAATGCACAC AGCATCCCAG AGCTATGCTA AC - #TGAGAGGT        1559                                                                           - CTGGGGTCAG CACTGAAGGC CCACATGAGG AAGACTGATC CTTGGCCATC CT - #CAGCCCAC        1619                                                                           - AATGGCAAAT TCTGGATGGT CTAAGAAGGC CCTGGAATTC TAAACTAGAT GA - #TCTGGGCT        1679                                                                           - CTCTGCACCA TTCATTGTGG CAGTTGGGAC ATTTTTAGGT ATAACAGACA CA - #TACACTTA        1739                                                                           - GATCAATGCA TCGCTGTACT CCTTGAAATC AGAGCTAGCT TGTTAGAAAA AG - #AATCAGAG        1799                                                                           - CCAGGTATAG CGGTGCATGT CATTAATCCC AGCGCTAAAG AGACAGAGAC AG - #GAGAATCT        1859                                                                           - CTGTGAGTTC AAGGCCACAT AGAAAGAGCC TGTCTCGGGA GCAGGAAAAA AA - #AAAAAAAC        1919                                                                           #        1926                                                                  - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:23:                                            -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                           #acids    (A) LENGTH: 399 amino                                                          (B) TYPE: amino acid                                                           (D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                 -     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: protein                                              -           (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: - # SEQ ID NO:23:                       - Met Ala Met Arg Pro Gly Pro Leu Trp Leu Le - #u Gly Leu Ala Leu Cys          #                 15                                                           - Ala Leu Gly Gly Gly His Gly Pro Arg Pro Pr - #o His Thr Cys Pro Gln          #             30                                                               - Arg Arg Leu Gly Ala Arg Glu Arg Arg Asp Me - #t Gln Arg Glu Ile Leu          #         45                                                                   - Ala Val Leu Gly Leu Pro Gly Arg Pro Arg Pr - #o Arg Ala Gln Pro Ala          #     60                                                                       - Ala Ala Arg Gln Pro Ala Ser Ala Pro Leu Ph - #e Met Leu Asp Leu Tyr          # 80                                                                           - His Ala Met Thr Asp Asp Asp Asp Gly Gly Pr - #o Pro Gln Ala His Leu          #                 95                                                           - Gly Arg Ala Asp Leu Val Met Ser Phe Val As - #n Met Val Glu Arg Asp          #           110                                                                - Arg Thr Leu Gly Tyr Gln Glu Pro His Trp Ly - #s Glu Phe His Phe Asp          #       125                                                                    - Leu Thr Gln Ile Pro Ala Gly Glu Ala Val Th - #r Ala Ala Glu Phe Arg          #   140                                                                        - Ile Tyr Lys Glu Pro Ser Thr His Pro Leu As - #n Thr Thr Leu His Ile          145                 1 - #50                 1 - #55                 1 -        #60                                                                            - Ser Met Phe Glu Val Val Gln Glu His Ser As - #n Arg Glu Ser Asp Leu          #               175                                                            - Phe Phe Leu Asp Leu Gln Thr Leu Arg Ser Gl - #y Asp Glu Gly Trp Leu          #           190                                                                - Val Leu Asp Ile Thr Ala Ala Ser Asp Arg Tr - #p Leu Leu Asn His His          #       205                                                                    - Lys Asp Leu Gly Leu Arg Leu Tyr Val Glu Th - #r Ala Asp Gly His Ser          #   220                                                                        - Met Asp Pro Gly Leu Ala Gly Leu Leu Gly Ar - #g Gln Ala Pro Arg Ser          225                 2 - #30                 2 - #35                 2 -        #40                                                                            - Arg Gln Pro Phe Met Val Thr Phe Phe Arg Al - #a Ser Gln Ser Pro Val          #               255                                                            - Arg Ala Pro Arg Ala Ala Arg Pro Leu Lys Ar - #g Arg Gln Pro Lys Lys          #           270                                                                - Thr Asn Glu Leu Pro His Pro Asn Lys Leu Pr - #o Gly Ile Phe Asp Asp          #       285                                                                    - Gly His Gly Ser Arg Gly Arg Glu Val Cys Ar - #g Arg His Glu Leu Tyr          #   300                                                                        - Val Ser Phe Arg Asp Leu Gly Trp Leu Asp Tr - #p Val Ile Ala Pro Gln          305                 3 - #10                 3 - #15                 3 -        #20                                                                            - Gly Tyr Ser Ala Tyr Tyr Cys Glu Gly Glu Cy - #s Ala Phe Pro Leu Asp          #               335                                                            - Ser Cys Met Asn Ala Thr Asn His Ala Ile Le - #u Gln Ser Leu Val His          #           350                                                                - Leu Met Lys Pro Asp Val Val Pro Lys Ala Cy - #s Cys Ala Pro Thr Lys          #       365                                                                    - Leu Ser Ala Thr Ser Val Leu Tyr Tyr Asp Se - #r Ser Asn Asn Val Ile          #   380                                                                        - Leu Arg Lys His Arg Asn Met Val Val Lys Al - #a Cys Gly Cys His              385                 3 - #90                 3 - #95                            - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:24:                                            -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                           #pairs    (A) LENGTH: 1368 base                                                          (B) TYPE: nucleic acid                                                         (C) STRANDEDNESS: single                                                       (D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                 -     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: cDNA                                                 -     (ix) FEATURE:                                                                      (A) NAME/KEY: CDS                                                              (B) LOCATION: 1..1368                                                #ID NO:24:(xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ                                       - ATG TCG GGA CTG CGA AAC ACC TCG GAG GCC GT - #T GCA GTG CTC GCC TCC            48                                                                           Met Ser Gly Leu Arg Asn Thr Ser Glu Ala Va - #l Ala Val Leu Ala Ser            #                 15                                                           - CTG GGA CTC GGA ATG GTT CTG CTC ATG TTC GT - #G GCG ACC ACG CCG CCG            96                                                                           Leu Gly Leu Gly Met Val Leu Leu Met Phe Va - #l Ala Thr Thr Pro Pro            #            30                                                                - GCC GTT GAG GCC ACC CAG TCG GGG ATT TAC AT - #A GAC AAC GGC AAG GAC           144                                                                           Ala Val Glu Ala Thr Gln Ser Gly Ile Tyr Il - #e Asp Asn Gly Lys Asp            #        45                                                                    - CAG ACG ATC ATG CAC AGA GTG CTG AGC GAG GA - #C GAC AAG CTG GAC GTC           192                                                                           Gln Thr Ile Met His Arg Val Leu Ser Glu As - #p Asp Lys Leu Asp Val            #     60                                                                       - TCG TAC GAG ATC CTC GAG TTC CTG GGC ATC GC - #C GAA CGG CCG ACG CAC           240                                                                           Ser Tyr Glu Ile Leu Glu Phe Leu Gly Ile Al - #a Glu Arg Pro Thr His            # 80                                                                           - CTG AGC AGC CAC CAG TTG TCG CTG AGG AAG TC - #G GCT CCC AAG TTC CTG           288                                                                           Leu Ser Ser His Gln Leu Ser Leu Arg Lys Se - #r Ala Pro Lys Phe Leu            #                95                                                            - CTG GAC GTC TAC CAC CGC ATC ACG GCG GAG GA - #G GGT CTC AGC GAT CAG           336                                                                           Leu Asp Val Tyr His Arg Ile Thr Ala Glu Gl - #u Gly Leu Ser Asp Gln            #           110                                                                - GAT GAG GAC GAC GAC TAC GAA CGC GGC CAT CG - #G TCC AGG AGG AGC GCC           384                                                                           Asp Glu Asp Asp Asp Tyr Glu Arg Gly His Ar - #g Ser Arg Arg Ser Ala            #       125                                                                    - GAC CTC GAG GAG GAT GAG GGC GAG CAG CAG AA - #G AAC TTC ATC ACC GAC           432                                                                           Asp Leu Glu Glu Asp Glu Gly Glu Gln Gln Ly - #s Asn Phe Ile Thr Asp            #   140                                                                        - CTG GAC AAG CGG GCC ATC GAC GAG AGC GAC AT - #C ATC ATG ACC TTC CTG           480                                                                           Leu Asp Lys Arg Ala Ile Asp Glu Ser Asp Il - #e Ile Met Thr Phe Leu            145                 1 - #50                 1 - #55                 1 -        #60                                                                            - AAC AAG CGC CAC CAC AAT GTG GAC GAA CTG CG - #T CAC GAG CAC GGC CGT           528                                                                           Asn Lys Arg His His Asn Val Asp Glu Leu Ar - #g His Glu His Gly Arg            #               175                                                            - CGC CTG TGG TTC GAC GTC TCC AAC GTG CCC AA - #C GAC AAC TAC CTG GTG           576                                                                           Arg Leu Trp Phe Asp Val Ser Asn Val Pro As - #n Asp Asn Tyr Leu Val            #           190                                                                - ATG GCC GAG CTG CGC ATC TAT CAG AAC GCC AA - #C GAG GGC AAG TGG CTG           624                                                                           Met Ala Glu Leu Arg Ile Tyr Gln Asn Ala As - #n Glu Gly Lys Trp Leu            #       205                                                                    - ACC GCC AAC AGG GAG TTC ACC ATC ACG GTA TA - #C GCC ATT GGC ACC GGC           672                                                                           Thr Ala Asn Arg Glu Phe Thr Ile Thr Val Ty - #r Ala Ile Gly Thr Gly            #   220                                                                        - ACG CTG GGC CAG CAC ACC ATG GAG CCG CTG TC - #C TCG GTG AAC ACC ACC           720                                                                           Thr Leu Gly Gln His Thr Met Glu Pro Leu Se - #r Ser Val Asn Thr Thr            225                 2 - #30                 2 - #35                 2 -        #40                                                                            - GGG GAC TAC GTG GGC TGG TTG GAG CTC AAC GT - #G ACC GAG GGC CTG CAC           768                                                                           Gly Asp Tyr Val Gly Trp Leu Glu Leu Asn Va - #l Thr Glu Gly Leu His            #               255                                                            - GAG TGG CTG GTC AAG TCG AAG GAC AAT CAT GG - #C ATC TAC ATT GGA GCA           816                                                                           Glu Trp Leu Val Lys Ser Lys Asp Asn His Gl - #y Ile Tyr Ile Gly Ala            #           270                                                                - CAC GCT GTC AAC CGA CCC GAC CGC GAG GTG AA - #G CTG GAC GAC ATT GGA           864                                                                           His Ala Val Asn Arg Pro Asp Arg Glu Val Ly - #s Leu Asp Asp Ile Gly            #       285                                                                    - CTG ATC CAC CGC AAG GTG GAC GAC GAG TTC CA - #G CCC TTC ATG ATC GGC           912                                                                           Leu Ile His Arg Lys Val Asp Asp Glu Phe Gl - #n Pro Phe Met Ile Gly            #   300                                                                        - TTC TTC CGC GGA CCG GAG CTG ATC AAG GCG AC - #G GCC CAC AGC AGC CAC           960                                                                           Phe Phe Arg Gly Pro Glu Leu Ile Lys Ala Th - #r Ala His Ser Ser His            305                 3 - #10                 3 - #15                 3 -        #20                                                                            - CAC AGG AGC AAG CGA AGC GCC AGC CAT CCA CG - #C AAG CGC AAG AAG TCG          1008                                                                           His Arg Ser Lys Arg Ser Ala Ser His Pro Ar - #g Lys Arg Lys Lys Ser            #               335                                                            - GTG TCG CCC AAC AAC GTG CCG CTG CTG GAA CC - #G ATG GAG AGC ACG CGC          1056                                                                           Val Ser Pro Asn Asn Val Pro Leu Leu Glu Pr - #o Met Glu Ser Thr Arg            #           350                                                                - AGC TGC CAG ATG CAG ACC CTG TAC ATA GAC TT - #C AAG GAT CTG GGC TGG          1104                                                                           Ser Cys Gln Met Gln Thr Leu Tyr Ile Asp Ph - #e Lys Asp Leu Gly Trp            #       365                                                                    - CAT GAC TGG ATC ATC GCA CCA GAG GGC TAT GG - #C GCC TTC TAC TGC AGC          1152                                                                           His Asp Trp Ile Ile Ala Pro Glu Gly Tyr Gl - #y Ala Phe Tyr Cys Ser            #   380                                                                        - GGC GAG TGC AAT TTC CCG CTC AAT GCG CAC AT - #G AAC GCC ACG AAC CAT          1200                                                                           Gly Glu Cys Asn Phe Pro Leu Asn Ala His Me - #t Asn Ala Thr Asn His            385                 3 - #90                 3 - #95                 4 -        #00                                                                            - GCG ATC GTC CAG ACC CTG GTC CAC CTG CTG GA - #G CCC AAG AAG GTG CCC          1248                                                                           Ala Ile Val Gln Thr Leu Val His Leu Leu Gl - #u Pro Lys Lys Val Pro            #               415                                                            - AAG CCC TGC TGC GCT CCG ACC AGG CTG GGA GC - #A CTA CCC GTT CTG TAC          1296                                                                           Lys Pro Cys Cys Ala Pro Thr Arg Leu Gly Al - #a Leu Pro Val Leu Tyr            #           430                                                                - CAC CTG AAC GAC GAG AAT GTG AAC CTG AAA AA - #G TAT AGA AAC ATG ATT          1344                                                                           His Leu Asn Asp Glu Asn Val Asn Leu Lys Ly - #s Tyr Arg Asn Met Ile            #       445                                                                    #              1368GG TGC CAT TGA                                              Val Lys Ser Cys Gly Cys His                                                    #   455                                                                        - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:25:                                            -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                           #acids    (A) LENGTH: 455 amino                                                          (B) TYPE: amino acid                                                           (D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                 -     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: protein                                              -           (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: - # SEQ ID NO:25:                       - Met Ser Gly Leu Arg Asn Thr Ser Glu Ala Va - #l Ala Val Leu Ala Ser          #                 15                                                           - Leu Gly Leu Gly Met Val Leu Leu Met Phe Va - #l Ala Thr Thr Pro Pro          #             30                                                               - Ala Val Glu Ala Thr Gln Ser Gly Ile Tyr Il - #e Asp Asn Gly Lys Asp          #         45                                                                   - Gln Thr Ile Met His Arg Val Leu Ser Glu As - #p Asp Lys Leu Asp Val          #     60                                                                       - Ser Tyr Glu Ile Leu Glu Phe Leu Gly Ile Al - #a Glu Arg Pro Thr His          # 80                                                                           - Leu Ser Ser His Gln Leu Ser Leu Arg Lys Se - #r Ala Pro Lys Phe Leu          #                 95                                                           - Leu Asp Val Tyr His Arg Ile Thr Ala Glu Gl - #u Gly Leu Ser Asp Gln          #           110                                                                - Asp Glu Asp Asp Asp Tyr Glu Arg Gly His Ar - #g Ser Arg Arg Ser Ala          #   125                                                                        - Asp Leu Glu Glu Asp Glu Gly Glu Gln Gln Ly - #s Asn Phe Ile Thr Asp          #   140                                                                        - Leu Asp Lys Arg Ala Ile Asp Glu Ser Asp Il - #e Ile Met Thr Phe Leu          145                 1 - #50                 1 - #55                 1 -        #60                                                                            - Asn Lys Arg His His Asn Val Asp Glu Leu Ar - #g His Glu His Gly Arg          #               175                                                            - Arg Leu Trp Phe Asp Val Ser Asn Val Pro As - #n Asp Asn Tyr Leu Val          #           190                                                                - Met Ala Glu Leu Arg Ile Tyr Gln Asn Ala As - #n Glu Gly Lys Trp Leu          #       205                                                                    - Thr Ala Asn Arg Glu Phe Thr Ile Thr Val Ty - #r Ala Ile Gly Thr Gly          #   220                                                                        - Thr Leu Gly Gln His Thr Met Glu Pro Leu Se - #r Ser Val Asn Thr Thr          225                 2 - #30                 2 - #35                 2 -        #40                                                                            - Gly Asp Tyr Val Gly Trp Leu Glu Leu Asn Va - #l Thr Glu Gly Leu His          #               255                                                            - Glu Trp Leu Val Lys Ser Lys Asp Asn His Gl - #y Ile Tyr Ile Gly Ala          #           270                                                                - His Ala Val Asn Arg Pro Asp Arg Glu Val Ly - #s Leu Asp Asp Ile Gly          #       285                                                                    - Leu Ile His Arg Lys Val Asp Asp Glu Phe Gl - #n Pro Phe Met Ile Gly          #   300                                                                        - Phe Phe Arg Gly Pro Glu Leu Ile Lys Ala Th - #r Ala His Ser Ser His          305                 3 - #10                 3 - #15                 3 -        #20                                                                            - His Arg Ser Lys Arg Ser Ala Ser His Pro Ar - #g Lys Arg Lys Lys Ser          #               335                                                            - Val Ser Pro Asn Asn Val Pro Leu Leu Glu Pr - #o Met Glu Ser Thr Arg          #           350                                                                - Ser Cys Gln Met Gln Thr Leu Tyr Ile Asp Ph - #e Lys Asp Leu Gly Trp          #       365                                                                    - His Asp Trp Ile Ile Ala Pro Glu Gly Tyr Gl - #y Ala Phe Tyr Cys Ser          #   380                                                                        - Gly Glu Cys Asn Phe Pro Leu Asn Ala His Me - #t Asn Ala Thr Asn His          385                 3 - #90                 3 - #95                 4 -        #00                                                                            - Ala Ile Val Gln Thr Leu Val His Leu Leu Gl - #u Pro Lys Lys Val Pro          #               415                                                            - Lys Pro Cys Cys Ala Pro Thr Arg Leu Gly Al - #a Leu Pro Val Leu Tyr          #           430                                                                - His Leu Asn Asp Glu Asn Val Asn Leu Lys Ly - #s Tyr Arg Asn Met Ile          #       445                                                                    - Val Lys Ser Cys Gly Cys His                                                  #   455                                                                        - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:26:                                            -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                           #acids    (A) LENGTH: 104 amino                                                          (B) TYPE: amino acid                                                           (C) STRANDEDNESS: single                                                       (D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                 -     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: protein                                              -     (ix) FEATURE:                                                                      (A) NAME/KEY: Protein                                                          (B) LOCATION: 1..104                                                 #/note= "BMP3"OTHER INFORMATION:                                               #ID NO:26:(xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ                                       - Cys Ala Arg Arg Tyr Leu Lys Val Asp Phe Al - #a Asp Ile Gly Trp Ser          #                15                                                            - Glu Trp Ile Ile Ser Pro Lys Ser Phe Asp Al - #a Tyr Tyr Cys Ser Gly          #            30                                                                - Ala Cys Gln Phe Pro Met Pro Lys Ser Leu Ly - #s Pro Ser Asn His Ala          #        45                                                                    - Thr Ile Gln Ser Ile Val Ala Arg Ala Val Gl - #y Val Val Pro Gly Ile          #    60                                                                        - Pro Glu Pro Cys Cys Val Pro Glu Lys Met Se - #r Ser Leu Ser Ile Leu          #80                                                                            - Phe Phe Asp Glu Asn Lys Asn Val Val Leu Ly - #s Val Tyr Pro Asn Met          #                95                                                            - Thr Val Glu Ser Cys Ala Cys Arg                                                          100                                                                - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:27:                                            -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                           #acids    (A) LENGTH: 102 amino                                                          (B) TYPE: amino acid                                                           (C) STRANDEDNESS: single                                                       (D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                 -     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: protein                                              -     (vi) ORIGINAL SOURCE:                                                              (A) ORGANISM: HOMO SAPI - #ENS                                       -     (ix) FEATURE:                                                                      (A) NAME/KEY: Protein                                                          (B) LOCATION: 1..102                                                 #/note= "BMP5"OTHER INFORMATION:                                               #ID NO:27:(xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ                                       - Cys Lys Lys His Glu Leu Tyr Val Ser Phe Ar - #g Asp Leu Gly Trp Gln          #                15                                                            - Asp Trp Ile Ile Ala Pro Glu Gly Tyr Ala Al - #a Phe Tyr Cys Asp Gly          #            30                                                                - Glu Cys Ser Phe Pro Leu Asn Ala His Met As - #n Ala Thr Asn His Ala          #        45                                                                    - Ile Val Gln Thr Leu Val His Leu Met Phe Pr - #o Asp His Val Pro Lys          #    60                                                                        - Pro Cys Cys Ala Pro Thr Lys Leu Asn Ala Il - #e Ser Val Leu Tyr Phe          #80                                                                            - Asp Asp Ser Ser Asn Val Ile Leu Lys Lys Ty - #r Arg Asn Met Val Val          #                95                                                            - Arg Ser Cys Gly Cys His                                                                  100                                                                - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:28:                                            -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                           #acids    (A) LENGTH: 102 amino                                                          (B) TYPE: amino acid                                                           (C) STRANDEDNESS: single                                                       (D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                 -     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: protein                                              -     (vi) ORIGINAL SOURCE:                                                              (A) ORGANISM: HOMO SAPI - #ENS                                       -     (ix) FEATURE:                                                                      (A) NAME/KEY: Protein                                                          (B) LOCATION: 1..102                                                 #/note= "BMP6"OTHER INFORMATION:                                               #ID NO:28:(xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ                                       - Cys Arg Lys His Glu Leu Tyr Val Ser Phe Gl - #n Asp Leu Gly Trp Gln          #                15                                                            - Asp Trp Ile Ile Ala Pro Lys Gly Tyr Ala Al - #a Asn Tyr Cys Asp Gly          #            30                                                                - Glu Cys Ser Phe Pro Leu Asn Ala His Met As - #n Ala Thr Asn His Ala          #        45                                                                    - Ile Val Gln Thr Leu Val His Leu Met Asn Pr - #o Glu Tyr Val Pro Lys          #    60                                                                        - Pro Cys Cys Ala Pro Thr Lys Leu Asn Ala Il - #e Ser Val Leu Tyr Phe          #80                                                                            - Asp Asp Asn Ser Asn Val Ile Leu Lys Lys Ty - #r Arg Trp Met Val Val          #                95                                                            - Arg Ala Cys Gly Cys His                                                                  100                                                                - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:29:                                            -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                           #acids    (A) LENGTH: 102 amino                                                          (B) TYPE: amino acid                                                           (D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                 -     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: protein                                              -     (ix) FEATURE:                                                                      (A) NAME/KEY: Protein                                                          (B) LOCATION: 1..102                                                 #/label= OPX) OTHER INFORMATION:                                               #"WHEREIN EACH XAA IS INDEPENDENTLY SELECTED                                   #GROUP OF ONE OR MORE SPECIFIED AMINO ACIDS                                                   AS DEFINE - #D IN THE SPECIFICATION (SECTION II.B.2.)"          #ID NO:29:(xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ                                       - Cys Xaa Xaa His Glu Leu Tyr Val Xaa Phe Xa - #a Asp Leu Gly Trp Xaa          #                15                                                            - Asp Trp Xaa Ile Ala Pro Xaa Gly Tyr Xaa Al - #a Tyr Tyr Cys Glu Gly          #            30                                                                - Glu Cys Xaa Phe Pro Leu Xaa Ser Xaa Met As - #n Ala Thr Asn His Ala          #        45                                                                    - Ile Xaa Gln Xaa Leu Val His Xaa Xaa Xaa Pr - #o Xaa Xaa Val Pro Lys          #    60                                                                        - Xaa Cys Cys Ala Pro Thr Xaa Leu Xaa Ala Xa - #a Ser Val Leu Tyr Xaa          #80                                                                            - Asp Xaa Ser Xaa Asn Val Xaa Leu Xaa Lys Xa - #a Arg Asn Met Val Val          #                95                                                            - Xaa Ala Cys Gly Cys His                                                                  100                                                                - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:30:                                            -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                           #acids    (A) LENGTH: 97 amino                                                           (B) TYPE: amino acid                                                           (C) STRANDEDNESS: single                                                       (D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                 -     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: protein                                              -     (ix) FEATURE:                                                                      (A) NAME/KEY: Protein                                                          (B) LOCATION: 1..97                                                  #/label= GENERIC-SEQ5NFORMATION:                                               #"WHEREIN EACH XAA IS INDEPENDENTLY SELECTED                                   #GROUP OF ONE OR MORE SPECIFIED AMINO ACIDS                                                   AS DEFINE - #D IN THE SPECIFICATION."                           #ID NO:30:(xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ                                       - Leu Xaa Xaa Xaa Phe Xaa Xaa Xaa Gly Trp Xa - #a Xaa Trp Xaa Xaa Xaa          #                15                                                            - Pro Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Ala Xaa Tyr Cys Xaa Gl - #y Xaa Cys Xaa Xaa Pro          #            30                                                                - Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Asn His Al - #a Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa          #        45                                                                    - Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xa - #a Xaa Cys Cys Xaa Pro          #    60                                                                        - Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Leu Xaa Xa - #a Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa          #80                                                                            - Val Xaa Leu Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Met Xaa Va - #l Xaa Xaa Cys Xaa Cys          #                95                                                            - Xaa                                                                          - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:31:                                            -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                           #acids    (A) LENGTH: 102 amino                                                          (B) TYPE: amino acid                                                           (C) STRANDEDNESS: single                                                       (D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                 -     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: protein                                              -     (ix) FEATURE:                                                                      (A) NAME/KEY: Protein                                                          (B) LOCATION: 1..102                                                 #/label= GENERIC-SEQ6NFORMATION:                                               #"WHEREIN EACH XAA IS INDEPENDENTLY SELECTED                                   #GROUP OF ONE OR MORE SPECIFIED AMINO ACIDS                                                   AS DEFINE - #D IN THE SPECIFICATION. "                          #ID NO:31:(xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ                                       - Cys Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Leu Xaa Xaa Xaa Phe Xa - #a Xaa Xaa Gly Trp Xaa          #                15                                                            - Xaa Trp Xaa Xaa Xaa Pro Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Al - #a Xaa Tyr Cys Xaa Gly          #            30                                                                - Xaa Cys Xaa Xaa Pro Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xa - #a Xaa Xaa Asn His Ala          #        45                                                                    - Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xa - #a Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa          #    60                                                                        - Xaa Cys Cys Xaa Pro Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xa - #a Xaa Xaa Leu Xaa Xaa          #80                                                                            - Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Val Xaa Leu Xaa Xaa Xa - #a Xaa Xaa Met Xaa Val          #                95                                                            - Xaa Xaa Cys Xaa Cys Xaa                                                                  100                                                                - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:32:                                            -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                           #pairs    (A) LENGTH: 1247 base                                                          (B) TYPE: nucleic acid                                                         (C) STRANDEDNESS: single                                                       (D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                 -     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: cDNA                                                 -     (vi) ORIGINAL SOURCE:                                                              (A) ORGANISM: HOMO SAPI - #ENS                                                 (F) TISSUE TYPE: BRAIN                                               -     (ix) FEATURE:                                                                      (A) NAME/KEY: CDS                                                              (B) LOCATION: 84..1199                                               #/product= "GDF-1"R INFORMATION:                                               #"GDF-1 CDNA"  /note=                                                          #ID NO:32:(xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ                                       - GGGGACACCG GCCCCGCCCT CAGCCCACTG GTCCCGGGCC GCCGCGGACC CT - #GCGCACTC          60                                                                           - TCTGGTCATC GCCTGGGAGG AAG ATG CCA CCG CCG CAG CA - #A GGT CCC TGC             110                                                                           #Gly Pro Cys Pro Pro Pro Gln Gln                                               #      5  1                                                                    - GGC CAC CAC CTC CTC CTC CTC CTG GCC CTG CT - #G CTG CCC TCG CTG CCC           158                                                                           Gly His His Leu Leu Leu Leu Leu Ala Leu Le - #u Leu Pro Ser Leu Pro            # 25                                                                           - CTG ACC CGC GCC CCC GTG CCC CCA GGC CCA GC - #C GCC GCC CTG CTC CAG           206                                                                           Leu Thr Arg Ala Pro Val Pro Pro Gly Pro Al - #a Ala Ala Leu Leu Gln            #                40                                                            - GCT CTA GGA CTG CGC GAT GAG CCC CAG GGT GC - #C CCC AGG CTC CGG CCG           254                                                                           Ala Leu Gly Leu Arg Asp Glu Pro Gln Gly Al - #a Pro Arg Leu Arg Pro            #            55                                                                - GTT CCC CCG GTC ATG TGG CGC CTG TTT CGA CG - #C CGG GAC CCC CAG GAG           302                                                                           Val Pro Pro Val Met Trp Arg Leu Phe Arg Ar - #g Arg Asp Pro Gln Glu            #        70                                                                    - ACC AGG TCT GGC TCG CGG CGG ACG TCC CCA GG - #G GTC ACC CTG CAA CCG           350                                                                           Thr Arg Ser Gly Ser Arg Arg Thr Ser Pro Gl - #y Val Thr Leu Gln Pro            #    85                                                                        - TGC CAC GTG GAG GAG CTG GGG GTC GCC GGA AA - #C ATC GTG CGC CAC ATC           398                                                                           Cys His Val Glu Glu Leu Gly Val Ala Gly As - #n Ile Val Arg His Ile            #105                                                                           - CCG GAC CGC GGT GCG CCC ACC CGG GCC TCG GA - #G CCT GTC TCG GCC GCG           446                                                                           Pro Asp Arg Gly Ala Pro Thr Arg Ala Ser Gl - #u Pro Val Ser Ala Ala            #               120                                                            - GGG CAT TGC CCT GAG TGG ACA GTC GTC TTC GA - #C CTG TCG GCT GTG GAA           494                                                                           Gly His Cys Pro Glu Trp Thr Val Val Phe As - #p Leu Ser Ala Val Glu            #           135                                                                - CCC GCT GAG CGC CCG AGC CGG GCC CGC CTG GA - #G CTG CGT TTC GCG GCG           542                                                                           Pro Ala Glu Arg Pro Ser Arg Ala Arg Leu Gl - #u Leu Arg Phe Ala Ala            #       150                                                                    - GCG GCG GCG GCA GCC CCG GAG GGC GGC TGG GA - #G CTG AGC GTG GCG CAA           590                                                                           Ala Ala Ala Ala Ala Pro Glu Gly Gly Trp Gl - #u Leu Ser Val Ala Gln            #   165                                                                        - GCG GGC CAG GGC GCG GGC GCG GAC CCC GGG CC - #G GTG CTG CTC CGC CAG           638                                                                           Ala Gly Gln Gly Ala Gly Ala Asp Pro Gly Pr - #o Val Leu Leu Arg Gln            170                 1 - #75                 1 - #80                 1 -        #85                                                                            - TTG GTG CCC GCC CTG GGG CCG CCA GTG CGC GC - #G GAG CTG CTG GGC GCC           686                                                                           Leu Val Pro Ala Leu Gly Pro Pro Val Arg Al - #a Glu Leu Leu Gly Ala            #               200                                                            - GCT TGG GCT CGC AAC GCC TCA TGG CCG CGC AG - #C CTC CGC CTG GCG CTG           734                                                                           Ala Trp Ala Arg Asn Ala Ser Trp Pro Arg Se - #r Leu Arg Leu Ala Leu            #           215                                                                - GCG CTA CGC CCC CGG GCC CCT GCC GCC TGC GC - #G CGC CTG GCC GAG GCC           782                                                                           Ala Leu Arg Pro Arg Ala Pro Ala Ala Cys Al - #a Arg Leu Ala Glu Ala            #       230                                                                    - TCG CTG CTG CTG GTG ACC CTC GAC CCG CGC CT - #G TGC CAC CCC CTG GCC           830                                                                           Ser Leu Leu Leu Val Thr Leu Asp Pro Arg Le - #u Cys His Pro Leu Ala            #   245                                                                        - CGG CCG CGG CGC GAC GCC GAA CCC GTG TTG GG - #C GGC GGC CCC GGG GGC           878                                                                           Arg Pro Arg Arg Asp Ala Glu Pro Val Leu Gl - #y Gly Gly Pro Gly Gly            250                 2 - #55                 2 - #60                 2 -        #65                                                                            - GCT TGT CGC GCG CGG CGG CTG TAC GTG AGC TT - #C CGC GAG GTG GGC TGG           926                                                                           Ala Cys Arg Ala Arg Arg Leu Tyr Val Ser Ph - #e Arg Glu Val Gly Trp            #               280                                                            - CAC CGC TGG GTC ATC GCG CCG CGC GGC TTC CT - #G GCC AAC TAC TGC CAG           974                                                                           His Arg Trp Val Ile Ala Pro Arg Gly Phe Le - #u Ala Asn Tyr Cys Gln            #           295                                                                - GGT CAG TGC GCG CTG CCC GTC GCG CTG TCG GG - #G TCC GGG GGG CCG CCG          1022                                                                           Gly Gln Cys Ala Leu Pro Val Ala Leu Ser Gl - #y Ser Gly Gly Pro Pro            #       310                                                                    - GCG CTC AAC CAC GCT GTG CTG CGC GCG CTC AT - #G CAC GCG GCC GCC CCG          1070                                                                           Ala Leu Asn His Ala Val Leu Arg Ala Leu Me - #t His Ala Ala Ala Pro            #   325                                                                        - GGA GCC GCC GAC CTG CCC TGC TGC GTG CCC GC - #G CGC CTG TCG CCC ATC          1118                                                                           Gly Ala Ala Asp Leu Pro Cys Cys Val Pro Al - #a Arg Leu Ser Pro Ile            330                 3 - #35                 3 - #40                 3 -        #45                                                                            - TCC GTG CTC TTC TTT GAC AAC AGC GAC AAC GT - #G GTG CTG CGG CAG TAT          1166                                                                           Ser Val Leu Phe Phe Asp Asn Ser Asp Asn Va - #l Val Leu Arg Gln Tyr            #               360                                                            - GAG GAC ATG GTG GTG GAC GAG TGC GGC TGC CG - #C TAACCCGGGG CGGGCAGGGA        1219                                                                           Glu Asp Met Val Val Asp Glu Cys Gly Cys Ar - #g                                #           370                                                                #           1247   AATG CCGCGTGG                                               - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:33:                                            -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                           #acids    (A) LENGTH: 372 amino                                                          (B) TYPE: amino acid                                                           (D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                 -     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: protein                                              -           (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: - # SEQ ID NO:33:                       - Met Pro Pro Pro Gln Gln Gly Pro Cys Gly Hi - #s His Leu Leu Leu Leu          #                 15                                                           - Leu Ala Leu Leu Leu Pro Ser Leu Pro Leu Th - #r Arg Ala Pro Val Pro          #             30                                                               - Pro Gly Pro Ala Ala Ala Leu Leu Gln Ala Le - #u Gly Leu Arg Asp Glu          #         45                                                                   - Pro Gln Gly Ala Pro Arg Leu Arg Pro Val Pr - #o Pro Val Met Trp Arg          #     60                                                                       - Leu Phe Arg Arg Arg Asp Pro Gln Glu Thr Ar - #g Ser Gly Ser Arg Arg          # 80                                                                           - Thr Ser Pro Gly Val Thr Leu Gln Pro Cys Hi - #s Val Glu Glu Leu Gly          #                 95                                                           - Val Ala Gly Asn Ile Val Arg His Ile Pro As - #p Arg Gly Ala Pro Thr          #           110                                                                - Arg Ala Ser Glu Pro Val Ser Ala Ala Gly Hi - #s Cys Pro Glu Trp Thr          #       125                                                                    - Val Val Phe Asp Leu Ser Ala Val Glu Pro Al - #a Glu Arg Pro Ser Arg          #   140                                                                        - Ala Arg Leu Glu Leu Arg Phe Ala Ala Ala Al - #a Ala Ala Ala Pro Glu          145                 1 - #50                 1 - #55                 1 -        #60                                                                            - Gly Gly Trp Glu Leu Ser Val Ala Gln Ala Gl - #y Gln Gly Ala Gly Ala          #               175                                                            - Asp Pro Gly Pro Val Leu Leu Arg Gln Leu Va - #l Pro Ala Leu Gly Pro          #           190                                                                - Pro Val Arg Ala Glu Leu Leu Gly Ala Ala Tr - #p Ala Arg Asn Ala Ser          #       205                                                                    - Trp Pro Arg Ser Leu Arg Leu Ala Leu Ala Le - #u Arg Pro Arg Ala Pro          #   220                                                                        - Ala Ala Cys Ala Arg Leu Ala Glu Ala Ser Le - #u Leu Leu Val Thr Leu          225                 2 - #30                 2 - #35                 2 -        #40                                                                            - Asp Pro Arg Leu Cys His Pro Leu Ala Arg Pr - #o Arg Arg Asp Ala Glu          #               255                                                            - Pro Val Leu Gly Gly Gly Pro Gly Gly Ala Cy - #s Arg Ala Arg Arg Leu          #           270                                                                - Tyr Val Ser Phe Arg Glu Val Gly Trp His Ar - #g Trp Val Ile Ala Pro          #       285                                                                    - Arg Gly Phe Leu Ala Asn Tyr Cys Gln Gly Gl - #n Cys Ala Leu Pro Val          #   300                                                                        - Ala Leu Ser Gly Ser Gly Gly Pro Pro Ala Le - #u Asn His Ala Val Leu          305                 3 - #10                 3 - #15                 3 -        #20                                                                            - Arg Ala Leu Met His Ala Ala Ala Pro Gly Al - #a Ala Asp Leu Pro Cys          #               335                                                            - Cys Val Pro Ala Arg Leu Ser Pro Ile Ser Va - #l Leu Phe Phe Asp Asn          #           350                                                                - Ser Asp Asn Val Val Leu Arg Gln Tyr Glu As - #p Met Val Val Asp Glu          #       365                                                                    - Cys Gly Cys Arg                                                                  370                                                                        __________________________________________________________________________ 

What is claimed is:
 1. A method of treating a gastrointestinal ulcerative disease in a mammal, comprising administering to said mammal a morphogen in a pharmaceutically-acceptable vehicle, wherein said morphogen is a dimeric protein that comprises an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of:(a) a sequence having at least 70% homology with the C-terminal seven cysteine skeleton of human OP-1, residues 38-139 of SEQ. ID NO:5; or (b) a sequence defined by Generic Sequence 6, SEQ ID NO:31; andwherein said morphogen induces tissue-specific morphogenesis of gastrointestinal mucosal barrier in an in vivo assay.
 2. The method of claim 1 wherein said ulcerative disease is selected from the group consisting of oral mucositis, gastric ulcer, duodenal ulcer, ulcerative colitis, regional enteritis, proctitis, xerostemia, inflammatory bowel disease, and necrotizing enterocolitis.
 3. A method of treating a gastrointestinal ulcerative disease in a mammal, comprising administering to said mammal a morphogen in a pharmaceutically-acceptable vehicle, wherein said morphogen is a dimeric protein that comprises an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of:(a) a sequence having greater than 60% amino acid sequence identity with the C-terminal seven-cysteine skeleton of human OP-1, residues 38-139 of SEQ ID NO:5, and (b) OPX sequence defined by SEQ ID NO:29; andwherein said morphogen induces tissue-specific morphogenesis of gastrointestinal mucosal barrier in an in vivo assay.
 4. A method of treating a gastrointestinal ulcerative disease in a mammal, comprising administering to said mammal a morphogen in a pharmaceutically-acceptable vehicle, said morphogen selected from the group consisting of human OP-1, mouse OP-1, human OP-2, mouse OP-2, 60A, GDF-1, BMP2A, BMP2B, DPP, Vgl, Vgr-1, BMP3, BMP5, and BMP6.
 5. The method of claim 4 wherein said morphogen is a conservative amino acid substitution variant of a morphogen selected from the group consisting of human OP-1, mouse OP-1, human OP-2, mouse OP-2, 60A, GDF-1, BMP2A, BMP2B, DPP, Vgl, Vgr-1, BMP3, BMP5, and BMP6.
 6. The method of claim 1, wherein said morphogen comprises the C-terminal seven cysteine skeleton of OP-1, residues 38-139 of SEQ ID NO:5.
 7. The method of claim 1, wherein said morphogen is in association with a pro-domain of a morphogen precursor.
 8. The method of claim 7, wherein said pro-domain is a conservative amino acid substitution variant of a morphogenic precursor selected from the group consisting of OP-1, OP-2, 60A, GDF-1, BMP2A, BMP2B, DPP, Vgl, Vgr-1, BMP3, BMP5, and BMP6.
 9. The method of claim 1, wherein said morphogen is administered locally to the ulcerated tissue.
 10. The method of claim 9, wherein said morphogen is administered in a mouthwash solution.
 11. The method of claim 9, wherein said morphogen is administered topically.
 12. The method of claim 11, wherein said morphogen is dispersed in a tissue adhesive composition.
 13. The method of claim 12, wherein said tissue adhesive is selected from the group consisting of pectin, glycerol, hydroxypropyl-cellulose, a sucralfate suspension, and a combination of fibrinogen and thrombin.
 14. The method of claim 1, wherein said morphogen is administered systemically to said mammal.
 15. The method of claim 14, wherein said morphogen is administered orally, rectally or parenterally.
 16. The method of claim 15, wherein said morphogen is administered orally in an ingestible delivery vehicle for controlled release of said morphogen in the buccal, gastric or intestinal cavity of said mammal.
 17. The method of claim 1, wherein said pharmaceutically-acceptable vehicle comprises a biocompatible ulcer-symptom-alleviating cofactor selected from the group consisting of analgesic, anesthetic, anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, antibiotic, antiviral, antifungal, and antisecretory agents.
 18. The method of claim 14, wherein said morphogen is administered to said mammal at a concentration of less than about 100 μg morphogen/kg weight.
 19. The method of claim 18, wherein said concentration is administered less than about 30 μg morphogen/kg weight.
 20. The method of claim 19, wherein said concentration is less than about 10 μg morphogen/kg weight. 